title: Complete ventricular asystole in a patient with altered mental status.
abstract: Patients who present with recurrent syncope are at risk for having underlying conduction disease, which may worsen if not promptly recognized and treated. We describe a patient who initially presented to a Mexican clinic with recurrent syncope and an electrocardiogram that showed complete heart block. After being transferred to our emergency department, he deteriorated into complete ventricular asystole with preserved atrial function and required placement of a transvenous cardiac pacemaker.
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Center San Diego, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanoni
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Center San Diego, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Center San Diego, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carstairs
authors.affiliation: Scripps Hospital Chula Vista, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chula Vista, California.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernandez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology