AUTHOR AND EDITOR INFORMATION

Section 1 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

INTRODUCTION

Section 2 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Background

Right bundle branch block (RBBB) occurs when transmission of the electrical impulse is delayed or not conducted along the right bundle branch. Thus, the right ventricle depolarizes by means of cell-to-cell conduction that spreads from the interventricular septum and left ventricle to the right ventricle. This results in the characteristic ECG pattern (together with a normal ECG) shown in Media file 1.

Pathophysiology

Knowledge of the anatomy and electrophysiology of cardiac conduction system from the atrioventricular (AV) junction to the Purkinje fibers is essential to understanding the pathophysiology of right bundle branch block.

Right bundle branch block occurs when the electrical impulse from the bundle of His does not conduct along the right bundle branch. Conduction down the left bundle branch proceeds normally, and the interventricular septum and left ventricle rapidly depolarize in the normal fashion. Depolarization of the right ventricle occurs later and is comparatively slow, accounting for the ECG findings in right bundle branch block (see Media file 1, Media files 3-4).

Embryology

The cardiac conduction system develops from rings of specialized tissue found in the embryonic heart tube. One theory describes 4 rings, each located between different segments of the heart tube. With looping and growth of the cardiac septi, the rings are brought together and develop into the sinus node, the AV node, and the penetrating bundle. Another theory describes a single ring of tissue located between the bulbus cordis and the primitive ventricle, which gives rise to the AV node, His bundle, right bundle branch, and left bundle branch.

Anatomy

The specialized conduction system of the heart is composed of cells that conduct electrical impulses faster than the surrounding myocardium. The conduction system can be divided into distinct anatomic segments, and each segment is described in sequence beginning at the AV junction and ending with the Purkinje fibers.

The AV junction can be divided into 3 regions as follows: transitional cell zone, AV node, and penetrating portion of the AV bundle (His bundle, common bundle).

The transitional cell zone is where the right atrium merges with the compact AV node by means of discrete atrial pathways termed the slow and fast pathways.

The next segment is the AV node, which lies anterior and superior to the ostium of the coronary sinus, directly above the insertion of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve. This area is located at the apex of the triangle of Koch, which is formed by the tricuspid annulus, the tendon of Todaro, and the ostium of the coronary sinus. Blood supply to the AV node is derived from the AV nodal artery, which is a branch of the right coronary artery in 85-90% of individuals and a branch of the left circumflex coronary artery in 10-15% of individuals.

At the apex of the triangle of Koch, the compact AV node becomes the penetrating bundle of His. It penetrates the central fibrous body at the attachment of the tendon of Todaro, runs between the membranous septum and the muscular septum, and bifurcates at the crest of the muscular ventricular septum. The His bundle is divided into 3 anatomic segments. The proximal, or nonpenetrating, segment lies distal to the AV node and proximal to the central fibrous body. The middle, or penetrating, segment penetrates the central fibrous body and runs posterior to the membranous septum. The distal, or branching, segment bifurcates at the crest of the muscular septum into the right and left bundle branches (see Media file 2).

The right bundle branch, a direct continuation of the penetrating bundle of His, originates distal to the attachment of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve with the membranous septum and surfaces on the right ventricular septum just below the papillary muscle of the conus. It is unbranched and proceeds toward the apex of the right ventricle along the posterior margin of the septal band, courses through the moderator band to the base of the anterior papillary muscle, and proceeds to the right ventricular free wall.

The left bundle branch originates at the crest of the muscular ventricular septum just distal to the membranous septum. It arises in a fanlike fashion that descends inferiorly along the left ventricular septal surface beneath the noncoronary cusp of the aortic valve. The left bundle branch usually branches into 3 major fascicles. The anterior fascicle is directed to the base of the anterolateral papillary muscle, the posterior fascicle is directed to the base of the posteromedial papillary muscle, and, in 60% of hearts, a central fascicle proceeds to the midseptal region. When no central fascicle is present, as in 40% of hearts, the midseptal region is supplied by radiations from the anterior fascicle or the anterior and posterior fascicles.

At the terminal aspect of each bundle branch, Purkinje fibers are interlaced on the endocardial surface of both ventricles and tend to be concentrated at the tips of the papillary muscles.

For a discussion on the anatomy of subtypes, see below.

Electrophysiology of cardiac conduction

The heart is a 2-step mechanical pump coordinated by precisely timed electrical impulses. For the pump to perform optimally, sequential depolarizations of the atria and then the ventricles allow atrial contraction to provide complete diastolic filling of the ventricles (AV synchrony). After the ventricles are filled, rapid activation of the ventricular myocardium permits a synchronized contraction to eject blood most effectively to the great vessels.

Normal cardiac conduction

In normal cardiac conduction, electrical excitation of the heart proceeds in a sequential manner from the atria to the ventricles and is demonstrated on the surface ECG (see Media file 5). The electrical impulse is generated in the sinus node and proceeds along proposed internodal conduction pathways to reach the AV node. As the impulse conducts through the AV node, conduction slows, allowing time for atrial contraction to occur before the ventricle is activated (PR segment). After the impulse passes through the compact AV node, it is rapidly conducted through the crux of the heart to the ventricles by means of the bundle of His (penetrating bundle) to the branching bundle, the bundle branches, the distal Purkinje fibers, and finally the ventricular myocardial cells (narrow QRS complex). When depolarization is complete, the ventricle repolarizes in preparation for conducting another impulse. 

Types of right bundle branch block

Three types of right bundle branch block have been identified in electrophysiologic studies. Proximal, or central, right bundle branch block occurs when a conduction block is present just distal to the bundle of His in the superior aspect of the right bundle branch. This generally occurs when the proximal bundle is injured during surgery for lesions with an inlet or membranous ventricular septal defect (VSD). Another type of right bundle branch block occurs when the impulse is interrupted between the proximal and distal aspects of the right bundle branch; this type is most commonly observed after surgical division of the moderator band. Distal right bundle branch block is observed when distal ramifications of the right bundle are disrupted during right ventriculotomy or resection of muscle bundles in the right ventricular outflow tract. Regardless of the type of right bundle branch block, the ECG patterns remain similar.

Natural history

In general, surgically induced right bundle branch block results in no clinically significant acute hemodynamic consequences and has a benign course over the long term. In rare cases, a progression to complete heart block and sudden death is a concern, particularly if the right bundle branch block pattern is accompanied by additional evidence of substantial injury to the His-Purkinje system (eg, left anterior hemiblock, first-degree AV block). Patients who have undergone repair for tetralogy of Fallot and who have an right bundle branch block pattern with a markedly prolonged QRS duration (>180 ms) may be at increased risk for important ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Patients with right bundle branch block from other causes may have diverse natural histories depending on the underlying disease. The outcome may be benign in some forms of familial right bundle branch block, or sudden death may result if the right bundle branch block pattern on ECG is due to Brugada syndrome or Kearns-Sayre Syndrome.

Frequency

United States

The most common cause of right bundle branch block in children is surgery associated with repair of an isolated VSD or another congenital heart disease that includes a VSD (eg, double-chambered right ventricle, AV canal, or tetralogy of Fallot). The incidence of right bundle branch block ranges from 25-81% after repair of a VSD alone to 60-100% after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. The variation of right bundle branch block after surgery is likely due to the proximity of the VSD to the His-Purkinje system, as well as the surgical technique. For example, right bundle branch block is less common with transatrial repair or exclusion ventriculotomy repair of a VSD than with other procedures.

Mortality/Morbidity

Surgically induced right bundle branch block generally results in no clinically significant acute hemodynamic consequences, and it has a benign course over the long term. In rare cases, if right bundle branch block is associated with injury to the His-Purkinje system (eg, left anterior hemiblock, first-degree AV block), it can progress to complete heart block and sudden death.

Patients who have undergone tetralogy of Fallot repair and have a QRS duration more than 180 milliseconds may be at risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death.

Patients with familial right bundle branch block may have a benign course, whereas those with right bundle branch block and Brugada syndrome or Kearns-Sayre Syndrome are at risk for sudden death.

Age

Surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot, in addition to closing the VSD, is often associated with a transannular patch of the right ventricular outflow tract. This situation often results in clinically significant pulmonic valve insufficiency and progressive right ventricular dilatation as the patient ages. In addition, some patients have residual stenosis at various levels in the pulmonary circulation. By the time the patient is in his or her late teens or young adulthood, the right ventricle has been subjected to years of abnormal hemodynamics. Patients with right bundle branch block and a markedly prolonged QRS duration (>180 ms) may be at increased risk for ventricular tachycardia and sudden death.

CLINICAL

Section 3 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

History

The history in children with right bundle branch block (RBBB) should include the following:

• History of congenital heart disease
• History of cardiac surgery
• History of palpitations, general energy and activity level, exercise tolerance, dizziness, and/or syncope
• Family history of known arrhythmias, including bundle branch block, complete heart block, and placement of a pacemaker or defibrillator
• Family history of premature or sudden unexplained death, myocardial infarction in individuals younger than 45 years, syncope, seizures, or fetal loss

Physical

Upon physical examination, patients with right bundle branch block have a persistently split second heart sound with normal respiratory variation in the splitting interval. In addition, one should always evaluate for findings consistent with postoperative heart disease, such as murmurs or a thoracotomy scar.

Causes

• Hereditary factors
• • Hereditary right bundle branch block was observed in 4 Lebanese families and has been mapped to chromosome 19.¹
  • A subset of patients with Brugada syndrome have mutations in SCN5A, the gene that encodes for the voltage-gated cardiac sodium channel.^{2, 3}
• Risk factors
• • In children, most cases of right bundle branch block occur after intracardiac surgery, such as congenital heart surgery associated with repair of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) and cardiac transplantation. Right bundle branch block has also been described in patients undergoing transcatheter closure of perimembranous VSDs.
  • Right bundle branch block has been associated with cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, congestive heart failure, atrial septal defect (ASD), and Ebstein anomaly.
  • A transient form of right bundle branch may be observed in patients with premature atrial contractions (Ashman phenomenon) or supraventricular tachycardia (rate dependent right bundle branch block). This occurs when an early impulse is conducted from the atrioventricular (AV) node to the His bundle while the right bundle branch is still refractory but the left bundle is not. Conduction down the right bundle branch is therefore delayed or blocked, resulting in a transient right bundle branch block pattern on the ECG.
  • Right anterior hemiblock is described in children with perinatal exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1.⁴
• Associated syndromes
• • Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an X-linked myopathy characterized by early onset and rapid progression with muscular weakness and pseudohypertrophy seen in the second year of life. Cardiac findings include mitral valve prolapse, pulmonary flow murmur, and an S3 or S4 gallop. (See Muscular Dystrophy.)
  • Myotonic dystrophy is characterized by muscular dystrophy, myotonias, hypogonadism, frontal balding, and cataracts. Congenital muscular dystrophy manifests with neonatal hypotonia, paresis, and myotonia. The adult form of myotonic dystrophy is the most common muscular dystrophy seen in adults. ECG findings may include first-degree AV block, left anterior fascicular block, and intraventricular conduction delay. Patients may have arrhythmias, Stokes-Adams attacks, or both. (See Muscular Dystrophy.)
  • Kearns-Sayre Syndrome is a mitochondrial myopathy with the physical findings of ptosis, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, and abnormal retinal pigmentation. Patients are at risk for heart block and sudden death. Rarely, patients present with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
  • Brugada syndrome is a channelopathy mediated by the SCN5A gene. The right bundle branch block pattern seen in patients with this syndrome is not actually right bundle branch block but is a function of the unusual repolarization abnormality. The ECG shows ST-segment elevation in leads V1-V3, and patients are at risk for sudden cardiac death. Cocaine consumption or the use of the antiarrhythmic drugs propafenone, ajmaline, flecainide or procainamide may reveal ECG findings consistent with Brugada syndrome.⁵
  • Patients may have isolated right bundle branch block or right bundle branch block with a left anterior fascicular block.
  • Right bundle branch block has been associated with blunt chest trauma and polymyositis.
  • Right bundle branch block may disguise the characteristic QRS morphology associated with ventricular pre-excitation (see Supraventricular Tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome). In patients with known right bundle branch block (eg, tetralogy of Fallot) and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with a left-sided accessory pathway, the presence of the pathway is often undetected. In patients with right bundle branch block and a right-sided accessory pathway, the QRS may appear relatively normal without the expected right bundle branch block pattern.

DIFFERENTIALS

Section 4 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Other Problems to be Considered

Interventricular conduction delay
Right bundle branch aberrancy (premature atrial contractions, supraventricular tachycardia)
Premature ventricular contractions, other ventricular arrhythmia
Paced ventricular beat
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (ventricular pre-excitation)
Brugada syndrome

WORKUP

Section 5 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Lab Studies

• If myocarditis or cardiomyopathy seem to be reflected in the right bundle branch block (RBBB) pattern, consider troponin, creatine kinase (CK), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and other laboratory tests for cardiomyopathy (eg, carnitine determination).

Imaging Studies

• Ambulatory ECG (ie, Holter monitoring) may be indicated in postoperative patients who are being periodically monitored or in patients with new right bundle branch block that has a poorly understood etiology and clinical effect.
• Echocardiography or myocardial perfusion studies may be indicated if the right bundle branch block is new or if the patient may have coexisting cardiac problems that cannot be adequately assessed with routine ECG. For example, the standard criteria for ventricular hypertrophy or ischemia are relatively unhelpful in a patient with a preexisting intraventricular conduction defect.

Other Tests

• ECG findings in right bundle branch block (RBBB) reflect the underlying pathophysiology.
• • Transmission of the electrical impulse through the left bundle is normal, resulting in normal depolarization of the septum and left ventricle. This creates the initial R wave in lead I and V1 and the Q wave in V6.
  • The electrical impulse in the right bundle branch is delayed or not conducted. Therefore, the right ventricle depolarizes by means of cell-to-cell conduction that spreads from the interventricular septum and left ventricle to the right ventricle. This situation results in the characteristic ECG pattern shown in Media file 1.
  • Right bundle branch block has been noted to alternate with left bundle branch block and intra-Hisian block.
• ECG findings necessary to confirm the diagnosis of right bundle branch block include the following:
• • For complete right bundle branch block, the duration of the QRS complex is prolonged for the patient's age. Maximum QRS durations are 0.07 seconds for newborns less than 6 days, 0.08 seconds for patients aged 1 week to 7 years, and 0.09 seconds for patients aged 7-15 years.
  • An rSR' or rR' pattern, with the initial r wave less than the R' or r', may be seen in leads V1-V3R (see Media file 3). The initial R wave represents septal activation, the S wave represents left ventricular activation, and the R' represents activation of the right ventricle from the septum and left ventricle.
  • The S wave, which represents left ventricular activation, is wide in leads I and V6 (see Media file 6).
  • The QRS axis may be normal, or right or left axis deviation may be present.
  • The T wave is almost always inverted in lead V1 and may be inverted in V2. In the other precordial leads and in the limb leads, the T wave is directed opposite to the terminal portion of the QRS complex.

Procedures

• Invasive cardiac catheterization and electrophysiologic testing may be necessary to evaluate patients at risk for heart block or ventricular tachycardia and to document cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, or coexisting hemodynamic abnormalities.

TREATMENT

Section 6 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Medical Care

The only treatment required for isolated right bundle branch block (RBBB) is periodic follow-up and evaluation.

Consultations

Children with right bundle branch block should be referred to a pediatric cardiologist for careful and complete evaluation. If right bundle branch block is associated with a syndrome, consultation with other appropriate specialists is indicated. Examples include an ophthalmologist for patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome and a geneticist, an orthopedic surgeon, and a pulmonologist for patients with muscular dystrophy.

Activity

Patients with right bundle branch block are not specifically limited in their activities; however, associated conditions may influence activity restrictions.

FOLLOW-UP

Section 7 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Further Inpatient Care

• Inpatient ECG telemetry may be required if patients with right bundle branch block (RBBB) are at risk for clinically significant arrhythmia (see Natural history).

Further Outpatient Care

• Individuals with heart disease treated or not treated with surgery and those with right bundle branch block should undergo ECG each year to evaluate for interval changes.
• In these individuals, ECGs may reveal progression of the underlying conduction defect or other potential rhythm abnormalities (eg, sinus bradycardia, supraventricular or ventricular ectopy).

Complications

• If right bundle branch block progresses to heart block, the patient may have fatigue, exercise intolerance, dizziness, syncope, or sudden death.
• Some patients who have undergone tetralogy of Fallot repair and have a right bundle branch block pattern and a markedly prolonged QRS may be at increased risk for ventricular tachycardia or sudden death.

Prognosis

• The prognosis for patients with isolated right bundle branch block is excellent because the course of right bundle branch block is generally benign.
• In other patients with right bundle branch block, such as those who have undergone heart transplantation or repair of congenital heart disease and those with Brugada syndrome, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, myocarditis, or cardiomyopathy, the prognosis depends on the underlying condition causing the right bundle branch block.

Patient Education

• Patients, parents, and primary medical providers should be informed that right bundle branch block per se does not typically predict specific future problems or management concerns.
• For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Heart Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Tetralogy of Fallot.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 8 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Medical/Legal Pitfalls

• Although the risk of right bundle branch block (RBBB) progressing to complete heart block and sudden death is low, patients require workup and consultation with a pediatric cardiologist.
• Failure to have the child properly evaluated could result in an unnecessary death and the legal ramifications resulting from such a tragedy.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Section 9 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors Christopher Mart, MD; Kerry Rosen, MD; and Christopher Zachary, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

MULTIMEDIA

Section 10 of 11  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

Media file 1:  ECGs demonstrate a normal sinus rhythm and a sinus rhythm with a right bundle branch block.
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Media file 2:  Anatomy of the penetrating portion of the atrioventricular (AV) bundle.
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Media file 3:  ECG depicts electrophysiologic events of right bundle branch block. AV = atrioventricular.
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Media file 4:  Pathophysiology of right bundle branch block. AV = atrioventricular; LV = left ventricular; RV = right ventricular.
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Media file 5:  ECG depicts electrophysiologic sequence of events that occur in normal cardiac conduction. AV = atrioventricular.
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Media file 6:  ECG demonstrates a wide S wave.
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REFERENCES

Section 11 of 11

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• Miscellaneous
• Acknowledgments
• Multimedia
• References

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Article Last Updated: Aug 25, 2008