Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC) Practice Exam

What is a common complication following an anterior wall myocardial infarction?

1. Bradycardia

2. Bundle branch blocks

3. Myocardial stunning

4. Ventricular arrhythmias only

The correct answer is: Bundle branch blocks

Following an anterior wall myocardial infarction, bundle branch blocks commonly manifest as a complication due to the anatomical and electrical changes that occur in the heart muscle. The anterior wall of the heart is primarily supplied by the left anterior descending artery, and damage to this area can disrupt the normal conduction pathways, particularly those of the left bundle branch. Bundle branch blocks can occur as a result of ischemia or infarction in the region, leading to a delay or blockage in electrical impulses traveling through the bundle branches. This can be observed on an electrocardiogram (ECG) as a widened QRS complex, reflecting the altered electrical activation of the ventricles. It's important to note that while other complications can arise from an anterior wall myocardial infarction, such as bradycardia or ventricular arrhythmias, they are not as directly related to the conduction system changes that happen with damage in the anterior wall as bundle branch blocks are. Myocardial stunning typically refers to a temporary loss of contractility following an ischemic event but is less specific as a complication of anterior wall infarctions in the context of conduction abnormalities.