Late atrioventricular block and permanent pacemaker implantation after heart transplantation

Akçakoyun M., DEMİR A. D., Özatik M. A., Küçüker Ş.

Turk Kardiyoloji Dernegi Arsivi, vol.37, no.8, pp.572-574, 2009 (ESCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 37 Issue: 8
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Journal Name: Turk Kardiyoloji Dernegi Arsivi
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.572-574
  • Keywords: Bradycardia, heart block/therapy, heart transplantation, pacemaker, artificial, postoperative complications
  • Lokman Hekim University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The need for permanent pacemaker implantation due to late atrioventricular (AV) block after heart transplantation is rare. A 59-year-old male patient underwent heart transplantation. He presented with syncope eight months after transplantation. Ambulatory 24-hour Holter monitoring showed predominant sinus rhythm with a mean heart rate of 74 bpm, intermittent second-degree AV block, and high-degree AV block with pauses of up to 10.6 seconds. Percutaneous transvenous endomyocardial biopsy yielded a histologic diagnosis of grade IA rejection according to the ISHLT (International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation) scoring system. A permanent pacemaker with DDD-R mode was implanted via the left subclavian vein, and he was discharged on the following day without any complication.