title: Transient heart block associated with head trauma.
abstract: Atrioventricular nodal block is a rare consequence of head trauma. We report a case of a 63-year-old male with coronary artery disease who sustained a skull fracture. Twelve hours later the cardiac monitor recorded an episode of high-grade atrioventricular block with a ventricular escape rhythm. Subsequent electrophysiologic evaluation revealed no abnormality of atrioventricular nodal conduction nor of intraventricular conduction. Atrioventricular block after head trauma may be caused by enhanced vagal tone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Fenster
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Marcus
mesh_terms: D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase