| Abstrakt: |
COMPLETE HEART BLOCK with Adams-Stokes seizures is an uncommon, but grave, complication of acute myocardial infarction, with at least a 50% mortality rate.1 During the acute phase of myocardial infarction, atrioventricular block may be transient.1, 2 If a patient is successfully maintained during this period, and reverts to regular sinus rhythm, the long-term mortality is no greater than in those postinfarction patients without associated heart block.3Recommended drug therapy for Adams-Stokes attacks in the immediate postinfarction period includes epinephrine or isoproterenol hydrochloride, adrenocortical steroids, and intravenous molar sodium lactate.1,4,5 With all of these medications, there may be a failure of response, or the patient may become refractory to treatment.The external pacemaker6, 7 has provided a dramatic advance in the general management of Adams-Stokes attacks. More recently, small, portable, internal electronic pacemakers, attached by a venous intracardiac catheter electrode inserted into the right ventricle,8,9 have |
