Complete (third degree) Heart Block in 80-year-old woman

Complete (third degree) Heart Block

ECG Interpretation

  • P wave rate 130/min
  • Complete heart block
    • there is no relationship between the P waves and the QRS complexes
  • Ventricular (QRS complex) rate 23/min
  • The ventricular ‘escape’ rhythm has wide QRS complexes and abnormal T waves

What to do ?

In the absence of a history suggesting a myocardial infarction, this woman almost certainly has chronic heart block: the fall may or may not have been due to a Stokes–Adams attack.

She needs a permanent pacemaker, ideally immediately. If permanent pacing is not possible immediately, a temporary pacemaker will be needed preoperatively.

READ MORE : Conduction Blocks at the AV Node (AV Blocks)