title: An antibiotic recipe for an arrhythmic disaster.
abstract: We describe the case of a patient who developed torsade de pointes during temporary pacemaker insertion after administration of intravenous erythromycin. The case highlights the dangers of administering drugs that prolong the QT interval in patients with complete atrioventricular block, and we discuss the underlying pathophysiological recipe that can lead to a potential arrhythmic disaster.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, and Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. keir_mccutcheon@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Keir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCutcheon
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, and Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Pravin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manga
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012307:Risk Factors; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin