Complete Ventricular Asystole in a Patient with Altered Mental Status

Abstract

Patients who present with recurrent syncope are at risk for having underlying conduction disease, which may worsen if not promptly recognized and treated. We describe a patient who initially presented to a Mexican clinic with recurrent syncope and an electrocardiogram that showed complete heart block. After being transferred to our emergency department, he deteriorated into complete ventricular asystole with preserved atrial function and required placement of a transvenous cardiac pacemaker. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(2):149-151.]

Keywords

• asystole
• arrhythmia
• conduction disease
• syncope
• altered mental status
• electrocardiogram
• emergency medicine
• cardiology
• electrophysiology