title: Recurrent asystole resulting from high cervical spinal cord injuries.
abstract: Cervical spinal cord injury is a highly morbid condition frequently associated with cardiovascular instability. This instability may include bradyarrhythmias, as well as hypotension, and usually resolves in a relatively short time. However, over a 3-year period (January 2003-December, 2005), 5 of 30 patients with complete cervical spinal cord injuries seen at our Level I trauma center required placement of permanent cardiac pacemakers for recurrent bradycardia/asystolic events. Strong consideration for pacemaker placement should be given for those spinal cord-injured patients with symptomatic bradyarrhythmic events still occurring 2 weeks after injury.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Franga
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adewumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014193:Trauma Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome