Comparison of echocardiographic markers of cardiac dyssynchrony and latest left ventricular activation site in heart failure patients with and without left bundle branch block

Several echocardiographic markers have been introduced to assess the left ventricular [LV] mechanical dyssynchrony. We studied dyssynchrony markers and the latest LV activation site in heart failure patients with and without left bundle branch block [LBBB]. Conventional echocardiography and tissue velocity imaging were performed for 78 patients [LV ejection fraction /= 3 markers was remarkably higher in the LBBB patients [73% vs. 43.9%, respectively; p value = 0.044]. The LBBB patients presented with a higher prevalence of dyssynchrony according to the frequently used echocardiographic markers. The latest activation site was different between the groups