Dobutamine-induced complete heart block.
Dobutamine is commonly administered as a pharmacologic stressor in patients with limitations precluding exercise testing. The case report presented is one of transient complete heart block resulting from dobutamine sestamibi stress testing. Shortly after initiating the dobutamine infusion, the patient became pale and presyncopal, with hypotension and a heart rate of 50 beats per minute. Subsequently, third-degree heart block developed which lasted transiently and resolved. Subsequent cardiac evaluation of the patient revealed no cardiac etiology for her symptoms. Though bradycardia is infrequently noted in patients receiving dobutamine during stress electrocardiogram, complete heart block is a possibility during dobutamine-induced stress echocardiography and must be recognized as a potential risk.
Vaidyanathan
Lekshmi
L
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Anand
Nishant
N
Stead
Latha G
LG
Boie
Eric T
ET
Sztajnkrycer
Matthew D
MD
Goyal
Deepi G
DG
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D025401:Echocardiography, Stress / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D004280:Dobutamine