Left and Right Bundle Branch Block Predictive of Pacemaker Implantation after TAVR

This paper looked at clinical markers for delayed progression to complete heart block following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) within 24 hours of the procedure. The single-center study included 608 patients who underwent TAVR, excluding 164 for having a pacemaker prior to TAVR or those expiring within 24 hours of the procedure. An additional 50 patients were excluded for receiving a pacemaker within 24 hours. The researchers compared preprocedural and postprocedural ECGs to detect new changes. According to the results, left bundle block branch, intraventricular conduction delay, left anterior fascicular block, and right bundle branch block were cited as the most commonly observed conduction abnormalities after the TAVR procedure. Left bundle branch block and right bundle branch block had the highest risk for pacemaker implantation after TAVR. “Left bundle branch block, right bundle branch block, and ΔPR greater than 40 ms were all associated with delayed progression to complete heart block and need for pacemaker implantation after TAVR,” the researchers concluded.