Title:Interatrial Block in the Modern Era
Volume: 10
Issue: 3
Author(s): Lovely Chhabra, Ramprakash Devadoss, Vinod K. Chaubey and David H. Spodick
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Interatrial block, bachmann's bundle, review, thromboembolism, atrial arrhythmia, P-wave duration.
Abstract: Interatrial block (IAB; P-wave duration ≥ 110 ms), which represents a delay in the conduction between the
atria, is a pandemic conduction abnormality that is frequently underappreciated in clinical practice. Despite its comprehensive
documentation in the medical literature, it has still not received adequate attention and also not adequately described
and discussed in most cardiology textbooks. IAB can be of varying degrees and classified based on the degree of
P-duration and its morphology. It can transform into a higher degree block and can also manifest transiently. IAB may be
a preceding or causative risk factor for various atrial arrhythmias (esp. atrial fibrillation) and also be associated with various
other clinical abnormalities ranging from left atrial dilation and thromboembolism including embolic stroke and mesenteric
ischemia. IAB certainly deserves more attention and prospective studies are needed to formulate a standard consensus
regarding appropriate management strategies.
