title: Left atrial and left atrial appendage systolic function in patients with post-myocardial distal blocks.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study aimed to evaluate function of the left atrium (LA) and of the left atrial appendage (LAA) after myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by intracardiac conduction disturbances.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised 59 patients with persistent post-myocardial distal blocks, who were allocated to one of the three following subgroups: study group I - 20 patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB); study group II - 20 patients with right bundle branch block (RBBB), and study group III -19 pts with left anterior hemiblock (LAHB). The control groups included patients with MI in their history and no BBBs (19 pts - group IV) and clinically healthy people (16 patients - group V). The parameters of LA and LAA systolic function were determined by means of transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We showed that patients who experienced myocardial infarction not complicated with conduction disturbances expressed compensatory LA systolic function enhancement. In patients with post-myocardial RBBB and LAHB significant enhancement of LA systolic function was observed as well but it was expressed to a lesser degree. There was also a tendency towards deterioration of LA systolic function in patients with post-myocardial LBBB. LBBB did not affect LAA systolic function negatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parameters of LAA systolic function showed its enhancement in all patients after myocardial infarction irrespective of whether it was complicated by conduction disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, M. Kopernik Specialist District Hospital, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piotrowski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szymański
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banach
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piotrowska
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gawor
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rysz
authors.forename: Zenon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gawor