Congenital Complete Heart Block in Adults
Muneera Al Taweel *
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Sarah Al Mukhaylid
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and College of Applied Medical Sciences (CoAMS-A), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Nada Alsultan
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Complete heart block occurs when atrial and ventricular contractions are not communicating, each beating, at their own pace. Therefore, it should be thoroughly investigated to ascertain its type. Congenital complete heart block (CCHB) might be unnoticed for a long time. CHB patients are prone to decreased perfusion related to symptoms of bradycardia and low cardiac output, which can lead to serious arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia, syncope, and sudden death. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for CCHB in adults, implications, and outcomes. Accordingly further management of CHB is achieved by the implantation of a cardiac pacemaker, but it might be a challenging decision, particularly in asymptomatic patients.
Keywords: Congenital complete heart block, AV dissociation, complete heart block, diastolic murmur