First degree AV block historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

First-degree AV block was first described by Dr. Engelmann in 1984. Dr. Ashmar further studied the blocked impulses and their impact on the conduction in the myocardium.

Historical perspective

In 1894, Dr. Engelmann described a phenomenon of AV interval lengthening. Dr. Engelmann described a stimulus that is applied to the atrium followed by elongation of the AV interval.^[1]
In 1925, Dr. Ashmar further studied these blocked impulses and their impact on the conduction in the muscle of the heart.
Dr. Ashmar stated the early blocked beats that follow normal impulses have less effect on the conduction system.

References

↑ LANGENDORF R (1948). “Concealed A-V conduction; the effect of blocked impulses on the formation and conduction of subsequent impulses”. Am Heart J. 35 (4): 542–52. doi:10.1016/0002-8703(48)90641-3. PMID 18907667.

[pmid18907667-1] LANGENDORF R (1948). “Concealed A-V conduction; the effect of blocked impulses on the formation and conduction of subsequent impulses”. Am Heart J. 35 (4): 542–52. doi:10.1016/0002-8703(48)90641-3. PMID 18907667.

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