Atrioventricular Dissociation


Description

The atria and ventricles beat independently of one another due to a cardiac conduction abnormality called atrioventricular dissociation.

Symptoms

Short-lived AV dissociation may not cause symptoms, but if it does, the symptoms are connected to bradycardia, tachycardia, and AV dyssynchrony and include the following:

Exertional dyspnea; dizziness; lightheadedness; palpitations; fatigue; and malaise.
Book an appointment with your Cardiologist if you experience any of these symptoms or call the emergency number right away if you experience any chest pain or discomfort.


Causes

AV Dissociation by Default: This happens when the dominant pacemaker (the SA node) slows down, giving control to a separate ventricular pacemaker such junctional and escape rhythms serve as examples that are commonly observed due to usual causation.
AV Dissociation by Usurpation: Frequently pathological versus AV dissociation by design. acceleration of the ventricles' dormant pacemakers, whose rates are higher than the intrinsic atrial rates.
Complete Heart Block: A pathological blockade prevents conduction between the SA node and the ventricles, resulting in separate rhythms.
Because of tachy- or bradyarrhythmias, the general physical examination may reveal abnormalities in the vital signs.

Diagnostics

Through research on medical history

Heart disease history; heart block symptoms; recent cardiac surgeries; medication reviews and dosages for beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and other rate-limiting meds; amiodarone and other anti-arrhythmic medications; and more.
Electrocardiography

The following 12-Lead ECG recordings exhibit AV dissociation:
Dissociated P Waves
Fusion and Capture Beats
The next step is to compare the atrial and ventricular rates to determine whether a whole heart block is present after confirming the presence of AV dissociation.

Complete heart block is diagnosed when the atrial rate is higher than the ventricular rate.
Complete heart block is ruled out when the ventricular rate exceeds the atrial rate.


Treatment

Atrioventricular dissociation is frequently resolved by treating the underlying cause.

If ventricular or supraventricular tachycardias are the cause of the AV dissociation, then the arrhythmia should be stopped.
A digoxin immune Fab combo is a treatment option for digitalis toxicity.
Drugs like atropine and isoproterenol may be used to raise the SA nodal rate.
If there is ECG and laboratory evidence of hyperkalemia-induced total heart block, potassium replacement therapy, including the use of beta 2 agonist drugs and insulin, together with calcium gluconate for cardiac protection, should be started.
Complete heart block patients need pacemaker implantation after reversible causes are ruled out. The quickest way to ensure cardiac pacing as single chamber pacemakers, dual chamber pacemakers, and biventricular pacemakers is with a transcutaneous pacemaker.
The dual-chambered pacemaker is the most popular and efficient in AV block cases since it lowers the likelihood of heart failure from pacing in the future.

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