EMCrit Podcast 48 – PhD in EKGs Part II: Left Bundle Branch Block

Published: May 23, 2011, 3:56 a.m.

A few months ago, we had Dr. Stephen Smith on the podcast to discuss a variety of EKG issues. Dr. Smith has an EKG blog that is required reading for every ED and ICU doc. This is Part II and I think it discusses an incredibly important issue: right now major medical societies including the AHA and ACEP are asking us to fibrinolyse or PCI patients with new or presumed new LBBB. However, your interventionalists will tell you that this strategy is a ridiculous waste given how few acute occlusions will actually be found. Why this discrepancy?