Syncope caused by cardiac asystole during dobutamine stress echocardiography.
Syncope caused by cardiac asystole during dobutamine stress echocardiography occurred in a 60 year old woman presenting with chest pain and a non-diagnostic exercise test. Cardiac asystole was not associated with myocardial ischemia and was attributed to a powerful cardioinhibitory vagal reflex elicited by the stimulation by the drug of cardiac and aortic mechanoreceptors. Cardiac asystole was promptly reversed by the administration of atropine with no significant sequelae.
Lanzarini
L
L
Division of Cardiology, IRCCS-S, Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy.
Previtali
M
M
Diotallevi
P
P
D001285:Atropine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D013575:Syncope / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D004280:Dobutamine; D001285:Atropine