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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffThere's no specific treatment for many cases of bundle branch block. Most people with bundle branch block are symptom-free and don't need treatment. Nevertheless, you may need to treat the underlying heart condition causing bundle branch block.
Medications
Treatment of underlying conditions may involve using medications to reduce high blood pressure or lessen the effects of heart failure.
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend treatment called reperfusion therapy for people with left bundle branch block who have had a heart attack. This treatment, given in an emergency situation, involves using medications called a streptokinase, or a tissue plasminogen activator to dissolve blood clots and increase the flow of blood to the heart. These medications carry a high risk of bleeding, so ask your doctor if you have concerns about taking these medications.
Artificial pacemakers
For some people with bundle branch block and a history of fainting, doctors may recommend implanting an artificial pacemaker. This pacemaker is a compact battery-operated device, as tiny as a quarter and weighing as little as an ounce that can be implanted under your skin (internal pacemaker).
Internal pacemakers are placed near your collarbone during a one- to two-hour surgery performed using local anesthesia. The pacemaker provides electrical pulses which keep your heart beating regularly. These devices have sensors that can detect when your heart needs a signal from the pacemaker to normalize your heart rate. Pacemakers can last for many years before the battery (generator) needs to be changed.
If you need a pacemaker, your doctor can explain any precautions you need to take in order to keep the device working properly, and to reduce risks associated with their use.
