Complete heart block during anaesthesia in a patient with sarcoidosis.
An apparently fit young man with sarcoidosis developed complete heart block during an emergency mastoidectomy. A temporary transvenous pacemaker was inserted, but permanent pacing was required in the postoperative period. The clinical and pathological features of cardiac sarcoidosis are described; complete heart block is the commonest presentation of cardiac involvement. The role of anaesthesia as the precipitating factor in this case is discussed.
Department of Anaesthesia, Singleton Hospital, Swansea.
D W
DW
Thomas
R A
RA
Mason
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications*; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications*