Complete heart block is a disease of the cardiac electrical conduction system where there is complete dissociation of the atrial and ventricular activity because of the absence of conduction through the atrioventricular node (AVN) or His-Purkinje system. In 1894, Dr. Engelman was the first to describe in detail the phenomenon of AV interval lengthening. In 1899, Karel Frederik published a paper on irregular pulses describing the impairment of AV conduction and blockage.Complete heart block may be transient due to increased parasympathetic tone defining vagally mediated atrioventricular block or due to persistent infranodal block whether there is evidence of conduction block  distal to the atrioventricular node. Normally SA node generates impulses that travel to the AV node and gets delayed there to assure that the contraction cycle in atria is complete before a contraction begins in the ventricles. From the AV node, the impulses pass through the His-Purkinje system to cause ventricular contraction. Pathological delay in the AV node is visualized on an electrocardiogram as a change in the P-R interval. These delays are known as an AV block. No impulses from the SA node get conducted to the ventricles, and this leads to a complete atrioventricular dissociation. The SA node continues to activate at a set rate, but the ventricles  will activate through an escape rhythm  that can be mediated by either the AV node, one of the fascicles, or by ventricular myocytes themselves. The heart rate will mostly be less than 45 to 50 beats/min, and most patients will be hemodynamically unstable. The most common cause of a complete heart block is coronary ischemia, but there are many other etiologies. The progressive degeneration of the electrical conduction system of the heart due to aging can cause a<unk> -degree heart block. Complete heart block can be preceded by first degree AV block, second degree AV block, or bifascicular block. Acute myocardial infarction may present as a<unk> -degree heart block.  Lupus in a pregnant mother can cause congenital heart block in newborns.  Maternal antibodies can cross the placenta and lead to a complete heart block during gestation. Sometimes no cause can be identified.<unk> -degree heart block should not be confused with high-grade AV block which is a second-degree block with a very slow ventricular rate with occasional AV conduction, or AV Dissociation defining to indicate the occurrence of independent atrial and ventricular contractions caused by entities other than<unk> -degree heart block.AV blocks are fairly common however,<unk>  is relatively rare. The incidence in the general population appears to be low, approximately 20 to 40 in 100,000 individuals in the United States. Given the etiology of the disease, the incidence among the apparently healthy and presumptively asymptomatic is even lower at approximately 1 in 100,000. Common risk factors associated atioventricular block include older age, male sex, history of myocardial infarction, history of congestive heart disease, high systolic blood pressure, increased fasting blood glucose level.Transthoracic echocardiography may be helpful in the diagnosis of the underlying diseases that tend to<unk> . Echocardiography might show shreds of evidence in favor of cardiomyopathies or valvular heart diseases. In particular case scenarios, transesophageal echocardiography is warranted and may help to diagnose etiologies such as valvular ring abscess. Furthermore, the left ventricular function can be determined using an echo and provide pieces of evidence in favor of the placement of a pacemaker or defibrillator. . Common indications for echocardiography in suspicion of cardiac origin of bradycardia or conduction disorder may include syncope, lightheadedness/presyncope,  symptoms related to aortic stenosis, hypertrophic  cardiomyopathy, heart  failure.There are no x-ray findings associated with<unk> . However, a chest x-ray may be helpful in the diagnosis of complications of<unk>  such as pulmonary edema. Additionally, a chest x-ray may be helpful in the diagnosis of the underlying disease tend to<unk> , or in the diagnosis of the other complications of that disorder which may include cardiomegaly and hilar adenopathy. CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of cardiac  and chest abnormalities related to the underlying organic disease in those with<unk> . Cardiac MRI may be helpful in  selected patients to identify the underlying  structural heart disease associated  conduction disturbance such as sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis, and amyloidosis. Nuclear imaging techniques might rarely be used and may be helpful in the diagnosis of complications of<unk>   or provide shreds of evidence in favor of the underlying disease in those with complete heart block. Ambulatory monitoring is warranted in cases of possible transient heart block, or some other bradyarrhythmias that might be mistaken with<unk> . Worsening atrioventricular  block  with isoproterenol and atropine may be suggestive of infranodal  block. Improvement of atrioventricular conduction  with carotid  sinus  massage  may  be  observed in patients with infranodal atrioventric-ular block. The management of<unk>  depends on the severity of signs, symptoms, and the underlying cause. In symptomatic patients and with hemodynamic distress, pharmacological therapy should be initiated immediately to increase heart rate and cardiac output. Most of the patients who do not respond to pharmacologic therapy require a temporary pacemaker. After stabilizing the patients, assessment and treatment of potentially reversible  causes should be done. Some patients without reversible cause or unidentified etiology require a permanent pacemaker. Cardiac pacemakers are effective treatments for a variety of cardiac conduction abnormalities and can reestablish adequate circulation by generating appropriate heart rate and cardiac response. Two main factors guide the majority of decisions regarding permanent pacemaker insertion. First is the association of symptoms with arrhythmia, and second is the potential for progression of the rhythm disturbance. Symptoms related to atrioventricular block are determining factor of placing permanent pacemaker, regardless of the level of atrioventricular block. Permanent pacemaker is warranted if the site of atrioventricular block is Infranodal, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. Temporary transvenous pacing is used to provide hemodynamic support or back-up pacing to prevent asystole. If atrioventricular block seems to be irreversible, it is better to proceed directly with permanent pacemaker implantation.
Patients with renal insufficiency, potassium electrolyte disturbances, and dehydration are predisposed to develop digoxin toxicity. Careful monitoring of electrolytes, drug levels, and renal function is essential in patients on chronic digoxin therapy. These patients should be carefully monitored for heart blocks. There is no secondary prevention.
Third degree AV block
Second degree AV block
First degree AV block
Fascicular VT
Mahaim type preexcitation
Wide complex tachycardia
Lone atrial fibrillation
AV reentrant tachycardia