Third-degree atrioventricular block (Complete heart block)


Description

Third-degree atrioventricular block is also known as complete heart block. In this condition the electrical signals are not conducted from the upper to the lower chambers of the heart, so the connection between them is lost and the lower chambers beat independently with a slower heart rate which causes disturbance in the heart rhythm and insufficient pumping of the blood to the body parts. It’s very rare as it affects only 0.02-0.04% worldwide.

Symptoms

Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Fainting
Cardiac arrest
Visit a Cardiologist for proper diagnosis and treatment if you have any of these symptoms



Causes

Heart attack
Heart fibrosis of unknown cause
Structural heart disease
Low blood flow to the heart due to the narrowing of the heart’s blood vessels
After valve replacement surgery
After open heart surgery
Electrolyte imbalance
Medication toxicity (ex: Digoxin, antiarrhythmic drugs)
Some diseases (ex: Lyme disease, systemic lupus erythematosus)

Diagnostics

Electrocardiogram (a simple test to examine the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart using skin-attached sensors to detect the electrical signals produced by the heart during each beat).



Laboratory Tests (a blood sample is taken to examine the amount of some substances to know if there’s a specific disease that caused this condition).


Treatment

If there’s a known cause of the disease it should be treated.

Treatment options:

Medications: Intravenous Atropine sulphate may be used but it often fails in many cases.
Cardiac pacemaker: A small device implanted in the chest to control the heartbeats.

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