ABSTRACT
We report a case of ventricular fibrillation with subacute myocarditis as the only underlying pathological abnormality in a 9-year-old child. The patient died suddenly after a follow-up of 13 years, despite the apparent control of the arrhythmia.
Subject(s)
Death, Sudden, Cardiac , Myocarditis/complications , Ventricular Fibrillation/etiology , Biopsy , Child , Echocardiography , Electrocardiography , Electrocardiography, Ambulatory , Endocardium/pathology , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Myocarditis/pathology , Myocardium/pathology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Masquerading bundle branch block is a right bundle branch block with a left anterior hemiblock which appears similar to a left bundle branch block in the frontal plane leads. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have followed 22 patients with such a pattern in the electrocardiogram for 3 years. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (59%) developed high degree atrioventricular block. During this period, there were 4 deaths, 3 from heart failure and 1 due to sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that progression to high degree atrioventricular block is quite common in the presence of this kind of branch block. It is frequently associated to advanced heart failure, so the prognosis is usually poor.
Subject(s)
Bundle-Branch Block/diagnosis , Electrocardiography , Heart Block/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PrognosisABSTRACT
Antiarrhythmic drugs administered intravenously run the risk of producing a hemodynamic collapse even when used by expert and well trained hands. The arrhythmias in the focal point of a preexcitation syndrome constitute a very special situation in which extreme caution must be used when using intravenous drugs, because the conduction through accessory channels can vary, depending on multiple factors. We describe a case of a patient with an accessory atrioventricular pathway and orthodromic tachycardia who developed cardiac arrest by wide QRS tachycardia after receiving intravenous amiodarone.
