Sick sinus syndrome diagnosed after a sinus arrest during treatment for zygomatic fracture: a case report

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative sinus arrest is rarely seen during zygomatic fracture treatment. The patient was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome based on repeated postoperative sinus arrest, which could have resulted in death if diagnosed late, making this case very significant to report.

CASE PRESENTATION

Sick sinus syndrome is an arrhythmia associated with reduced automaticity of the sinoatrial node or impaired sinoatrial node conduction. We report the case of a 67-year-old man diagnosed with the syndrome after a sinus arrest that occurred during a zygomatic fracture treatment. The patient had cheek pain and mouth opening disorder, dizziness after fainting and sustaining a facial injury. Preoperative examination determined that the syncope was due to drug-induced arrhythmia, and surgery was authorized after drug withdrawal. During the operation, sinus arrest was observed due to trigeminal vagal reflex, and heart rate was restarted by stopping the operation and chest compressions. After the surgery, the patient showed symptoms of dizziness and palpitations, and sinus arrest following atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia, which was diagnosed as sick sinus syndrome, and a pacemaker was implanted. Currently, 8 years have passed since the surgery, and there are no symptoms of mouth opening disorder, dizziness, or palpitations.

CONCLUSIONS

In the case of maxillofacial injuries due to syncope, cardiogenic syncope is a possibility, and repeated syncope is a risk for death due to delayed diagnosis. There are no reports of maxillofacial trauma leading to a diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome. The purpose of this case report is to disseminate the importance of diagnosing the cause of syncope as well as injury treatment.

Lidocaine Tape Application for 3 Hours Prevents Vasovagal Syncope During Venipuncture: A Case Series

Vasovagal syncope (VVS) or reflex is usually caused by physical and mental stress-related factors, like pain, anxiety, and fear, and it is one of the most frequent complications during dental treatment. Two patients, both with histories of dental phobia and of VVS during vaccination, venipuncture, and dental treatment with local anesthetics, were scheduled for dental treatment under intravenous (IV) sedation. However, both experienced episodes of VVS that occurred during venipuncture using a 24-gauge indwelling needle. We determined that pain was the main trigger of VVS for these patients and attempted to reduce venipuncture-associated pain using 60% lidocaine tape applied 3 hours before venipuncture at their next dental visits, respectively. Use of the lidocaine tape was successful and permitted comfortable placement of the IV catheter without any onset of VVS.

Heart Block Caused by Ticagrelor Use in a Patient Who Underwent Adenosine Diastolic Fractional Reserve Assessment: A Case Report

Ticagrelor is a direct and rapid-acting antagonist of the P2Y12-adenosine diphosphate receptor found on platelets. The drug is recommended as a first-line antiplatelet agent in patients with acute coronary syndromes, as evidenced in its superiority compared to clopidogrel according to the Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes study. Specifically, the mechanism of action has been proven to show higher inhibition and less variability in its action on P2Y12 receptors compared to clopidogrel. Additionally, ticagrelor inhibits the equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 adenosine transporter protein leading to an increased concentration of adenosine in the blood, particularly at sites of ischemia. This effect increases the biological efficacy of ticagrelor in terms of cardioprotection, anticoagulation effects, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effects are also thought to be responsible for some of the adverse pharmacological effects reported with ticagrelor, such as bradycardia and ventricular pauses > 3 seconds. Herein, we report a case of recurrent sinus arrest and ventricular asystole in a patient pre-treated with ticagrelor and subsequent physiological assessment of a coronary lesion with fractional flow reserve using intravenous adenosine infusion.

Prevalence, types and treatment of bradycardia in obstructive sleep apnea - A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The association of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with bradycardia is not well-characterized, which may confer significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated. We sought to clarify the prevalence of comorbid OSA and bradycardia, and the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on bradycardia outcomes.

METHODS

We systematically searched four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus) for randomized or observational studies reporting the co-prevalence of sleep apnea and bradycardia or evaluated the use of CPAP on the incidence of bradycardias. We used random-effects models in all meta-analyses and evaluated heterogeneity using I².

RESULTS

We included 34 articles from 7204 records, comprising 4852 patients. Among patients with OSA, the pooled prevalence of daytime and nocturnal bradycardia were 25% (95% CI: 18.6 to 32.7) and 69.8% (95% CI: 41.7 to 88.2) respectively. Among patients with bradycardia, the pooled prevalence of OSA was 56.8% (95% CI: 21.5 to 86.3). CPAP treatment, compared to those without, did not significantly reduce the risk of daytime (two randomized trials; RR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.11 to 2.21) or nocturnal bradycardia (one randomized-controlled trial and one cohort study; RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.48 to 1.20).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis demonstrates a high comorbid disease burden between OSA and bradycardia. Future research should explore the treatment effect of CPAP on bradycardia incidence, as compared to placebo.

When the brain slows the heart-herpes encephalitis and sinus arrest: a case report

Background

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis is a known cause of cognitive deterioration, neurological disturbances, and seizures though are rarely associated with sinus node dysfunction.

Case summary

We present a 54-year-old man admitted to the hospital with a 10-day history of fever, confusion, and fatigue, 1 week following a transient loss of consciousness. An initial workup suggested HSV encephalitis and the patient was started on intravenous Acyclovir. Due to his episode of syncope, a 24 h Holter electrocardiogram monitoring was performed. The Holter documented multiple episodes of sinus arrest, with a second episode of syncope noticed by the hospital staff concurrent with the last documented sinus arrest. Following antiviral treatment and resolution of the encephalitis we noticed complete resolution of sinus node dysfunction. We subsequently avoided permanent pacemaker implantation.

Discussion

Our case of proven HSV encephalitis complicated by sinus node arrest and syncope with complete resolution following antiviral treatment suggests no indication for permanent pacemaker implantation. This approach is consistent with data from previously reported cases.

Myocardial fibrosis after COVID-19 infection and severe sinus arrest episodes in an asymptomatic patient with mild sleep apnea syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

COVID-19 infection is a new disease mainly affecting the respiratory system but is also accompanied by many extra-pulmonary manifestations. A case of a 47-year old male with unique myocardial fibrosis after COVID-19 infection involving the left ventricular wall, intraventricular septum and almost complete damage of interatrial septum, in combination with asymptomatic severe sinus arrest episodes related to mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is described here.

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Myocardial fibrosis may be a consequence of COVID-19 infection.

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Almost complete fibrosis of interatrial septum is a unique complication of COVID-19.

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Cardiac MRI is very useful in detecting myocardial complications.

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Severe sinus arrest episodes are very unusual in patients with mild OSA syndrome.

Markedly long pause due to sinus arrest during dexmedetomidine use and nasal continuous positive airway pressure in two infants with respiratory syncytial virus infection

Nasal respiratory support for infants with respiratory distress caused by respiratory syncytial (RS) virus infection sometimes requires appropriate sedation. Dexmedetomidine can be an alternative sedative because of its advantage of less frequent respiratory suppression. We report the cases of twin infants with RS virus infection who showed unreported long pauses (4 and 10 s) due to sinus arrest while receiving dexmedetomidine. After termination of dexmedetomidine administration, the long pause of >2 s was no longer observed in both cases. RS virus infection may inhibit the conduction system and sometimes induce bradyarrhythmia. Cardiac and sinus arrests are reported as complications of dexmedetomidine administration. Thus, because dexmedetomidine administration and RS virus infection may additively or synergistically inhibit the conduction system, the use of dexmedetomidine in infantile RS infection should be carefully considered. If sedation is unavoidable, other drugs should be used first. An evidence-based safe regimen for sedation in infants with RS infection should be established in the near future. <Learning objective: Dexmedetomidine use as a sedative should be carefully considered in infants with respiratory syncytial (RS) infection because dexmedetomidine administration and RS virus infection may additively or synergistically inhibit the conduction system. If sedation is unavoidable, other drugs should be used first.>.

Heart rhythm characterisation during unexplained transient loss of consciousness in dogs

The identification of the heart rhythm during an episode of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) is considered the reference standard method to elucidate the underlying aetiology. This study aimed to characterise heart rhythm in dogs during TLOC using Holter and external loop recorder monitoring. We retrospectively reviewed 24-h Holter monitoring and external loop recorder tracings from 8084 dogs. Heart rhythms from dogs that experienced TLOC during the recording was analysed to identify rhythm disturbances that occurred during episodes of TLOC. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were subsequently categorised into Type 1 (ventricular arrest), Type 2 (sinus bradycardia), Type 3 (no/slight rhythm variations), and Type 4 (tachycardia). Transient LOC was documented in 92 dogs over 230 episodes of TLOC. Percentage of cases with ECGs compatible with each classification were as follows: 72.1%, Type 1; 6.1%, Type 2; 20.9%, Type 3; and 0.9%, Type 4. Cardiac rhythm during the TLOC could have been a consequence of a neurocardiogenic mechanism in 46.7% cases, while intrinsic rhythm disturbances of the sinus node or of the atrioventricular node were diagnosed in 31.5% cases. In two cases, tachycardia was the possible cause of the TLOC. ECG patterns in dogs presenting with multiple TLOC episodes were completely reproducible during each episode. TLOC in dogs was primarily caused by ventricular arrest. Most dogs with TLOC had electrocardiographic finding suggestive of a reflex or neurally-mediated syncope, but one third had an ECG more suggestive of a conduction disorder. Distinguishing these two entities could help inform diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic plans.

Risk of fatal sinus arrest induced by low-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage: A case of a young patient with obstructive sleep apnea

Background

Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are both considered possible causes of secondary arrhythmias. However, there are limited reports on the increased risk of bradyarrhythmia for arrhythmia-free SAS patients with SAH.

Case Description

A 31-year-old woman with SAS developed low-grade SAH and underwent coil embolization on postbleed day 1. Following a coiling procedure, she experienced worsening episodes of sinus arrest lasting up to 12 s and required a temporary pacemaker. Frequent episodes of sinus arrest were detected for the next 4 days. Thereafter, all types of arrhythmias gradually decreased, and she eventually recovered to be arrhythmia free.

Conclusion

Acceleration of sympathetic nervous activity caused by acute SAH may predispose patients to bradyarrhythmia with SAS and elicit asystole. The coexistence of SAS and SAH should be recognized as a cause of life-threatening sinus arrest, even if the severity of SAH is low grade.

COVID-19 treatment with lopinavir-ritonavir resulting in sick sinus syndrome: a case report

Background

COVID-19 infection is the most serious global public health crisis of the century. With no approved treatments against it, investigational treatments are being used despite limited safety data. Besides being at higher risk of complications of COVID-19 infection, patients with underlying cardiovascular disease are more likely to develop cardiac-related side effects of treatment. We present a case of sinus arrest with junctional escape related to lopinavir–ritonavir.

Case summary

A 67-year-old man, with underlying stable ischaemic heart disease, acquired COVID-19 infection. He had a prolonged duration of fever and cough. He subsequently developed acute respiratory distress and required intensive care unit (ICU) care. Given his severe infection, he was started on lopinavir–ritonavir. Hydroxychloroquine was not used as he had a prolonged QTc interval. During observation in the ICU, the patient developed recurrent episodes of sinus arrest with junctional escape. Initial concerns were of myocarditis, but he had no ST-segment changes on ECG, with mild elevations of highly sensitive troponin I and a normal transthoracic echocardiogram. A multidisciplinary team discussion involving the intensivist, infectious disease physicians, and cardiologist; the decision was made to stop treatment with lopinavir–ritonavir. Within 48 h, the bradyarrhythmia resolved. The patient did not require transvenous and permanent pacemaker insertion.

Conclusion

Current efficacy and safety evidence of lopinavir–ritonavir as a treatment in COVID-19 patients is limited. Although uncommonly reported, those with underlying cardiovascular disease are at increased risk of bradyarrhythmia-related adverse effects of lopinavir–ritonavir. When initiating investigational therapies, especially in patients with cardiovascular conditions, adequate counselling and close monitoring are required.

A case report: high dose melphalan as a conditioning regimen for multiple myeloma induces sinus arrest

High dose melphalan is commonly used as a conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma. There are reports of adverse cardiac events with melphalan manifested by supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation. Here, we report a rare case of a 58 year old female with multiple myeloma, who developed sinus arrest after autologous stem cell transplantation using high dose melphalan as a conditioning regimen. It was severe and rare, therefore, monitoring for cardiac toxicity in patients receiving high-dose melphalan is mandatory.

Efficacy of theophylline in patients with syncope without prodromes with normal heart and normal ECG

BACKGROUND

Patients affected by syncope without or with very short (≤5 s) prodrome with normal heart and normal ECG have been seen to present low plasma adenosine levels. We investigated whether chronic treatment of these patients with theophylline, a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, results in clinical benefit.

METHODS

In a consecutive case-series of 16 patients (mean age 47 ± 25 years, 9 females) who had ECG documentation of asystolic syncope, we compared the incidence of syncopal recurrence during a period without and a period with tailored theophylline therapy.

RESULTS

During a median of 60 months before ECG documentation of the index episode, the patients had a median of 2 syncopes per year. During the 6 months of the study phase without therapy, the patients had a median of 2.6 syncopes per year, p = 0.63. During the 23 months of the study phase with theophylline, the patients had a median of 0.4 syncopes per year, p = 0.005 vs history and p = 0.005 vs no therapy. In the 13 patients who had an implantable loop recorder during both study phases, the incidence of asystolic episodes > 3 s decreased from 9.6 per year to 1.1 per year, p = 0.0007. During theophylline treatment, syncope recurred in 1/5 (20%) patients who had an idiopathic atrioventricular block as the index event versus 9/11 (81%) patients who had a sinus arrest, p = 0.005.

CONCLUSION

Theophylline is effective in reducing syncopal burden in patients with syncope without prodromes with normal heart and normal ECG. Its efficacy is greater in those with idiopathic atrioventricular block.

Sick Sinus Syndrome

The sick sinus syndrome includes symptoms and signs related to sinus node dysfunction. This can be caused by intrinsic abnormal impulse formation and/or propagation from the sinus node or, in some cases, by extrinsic reversible causes. Careful evaluation of symptoms and of the electrocardiogram is of crucial importance, because diagnosis is mainly based on these 2 elements. In some cases, the pathophysiologic mechanism that induces sinus node dysfunction also favors the onset of atrial arrhythmias, which results in a more complex clinical condition, known as "bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome."

The incidence, indications and predictors of acute pacemaker implantation after ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation

INTRODUCTION

Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) may additionally suffer from a concealed sinus node disease. We sought to determine the incidence, indications and predictors of acute pacemaker [PM] implantation within 1 week after the ablation of persistent AF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients, who had had an ablation of persistent AF at our center. Between 01/2011 and 08/2016, 1234 patients (mean age 65 ± 10 years, 66.7% male) without prior PM implantation underwent an ablation of persistent AF. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was performed in 1158 (93.8%), the additional ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) in 1109 (89.9%) and linear ablation in 524 (42.5%) patients. Temporary cardiac pacing was necessary in 27 (2.2%) patients. The temporary PM was removed in 15 patients (1.2%) because sinus node recovered after a median of 1.0 (minimum 0.1-maximum 2.0) day. The remaining 12 (1.0%) patients required the implantation of a permanent PM. Another 13 (1.1%) patients required permanent PM implantation without prior temporary pacing. In a multivariable regression model, age [OR 1.07 (1.02-1.12), p = 0.006], sinus pauses prior to ablation [OR 7.97 (2.36-26.88), p = 0.001] and atria with low voltage [OR 2.83 (1.31-6.11), p = 0.008] were identified as significant predictors for acute cardiac pacing.

CONCLUSION

Acute cardiac pacing within 1 week after the ablation of persistent AF was necessary in 40 (3.2%) patients. Age, sinus pauses in history prior to ablation and the existence of low-voltage areas in the atria were identified as relevant risk factors.

A case of sinus pause induced by swallowing in the setting of olanzapine and guanfacine overdose

Olanzapine, a second-generation antipsychotic, is used in both adult and pediatric populations for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression and has been associated with autonomic dysregulation in the setting of overdose. Guanfacine is a sympatholytic drug used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and has also been associated with autonomic dysfunction. We present a unique case of a 17-year-old male who overdosed on 340 mg of olanzapine and 189 mg of extended-release guanfacine with a previously unreported adverse event. Specifically, five days after ingestion, he developed a 5-8 s sinus pause every time he forcefully swallowed any beverage, suggestive of a vagal hypersensitivity reaction. The report will review the autonomic dysfunction of olanzapine and guanfacine and management of asymptomatic sinus pause in the critical care setting.

An Unconventional Route of Left Ventricular Pacing

We present a case of a rare complication of transvenous right ventricular pacing by temporary pacing wire causing iatrogenic interventricular septal perforation and left ventricular pacing in a 69-year-old man who was referred for recurrent syncope with sinus arrest.

Sudden manifestation of sinus arrest nine months after catheter ablation treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation

A 39-year-old man with a seemingly non-remodeled, small heart suffered persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Extensive isolation of the pulmonary vein, superior vena cava, and posterior left atrium, in conjunction with right atrium focal ablation, was performed to ablate multiple AF foci during two catheter ablation sessions. Sinus arrest occurred suddenly during follow-up, despite the absence of recurrent AF, ultimately necessitating pacemaker implantation. This case underscores the necessity of careful follow-up after catheter ablation, highlighting the risk of sudden, severe sinus node dysfunction, even in young AF patients with small hearts.

Blackout during meals: A case report of swallow syncope due to sinus arrest

A 79-year-old male, with a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), was referred to our cardiovascular department for a detailed examination of blackout caused by sinus arrest only during meals. Ultrasound echocardiography showed normal cardiac contraction with no asynergy, irrespective of the remaining stenotic coronary lesion. An electrophysiological study revealed deteriorated atrioventricular nodal conduction at a Wenckebach point of 70 beats per minute. However, sinus node function was normal as demonstrated by a sinus node recovery time of 1369 ms. Coronary angiography showed triple-vessel disease including the remaining stenotic coronary lesion, and a PCI was performed on the right coronary artery. Nevertheless, sinus arrest during meals was unchanged. Swallow syncope was partially improved by dietary modification; however, pacemaker implantation (PMI) was performed eventually, and the patient became asymptomatic after PMI. <Learning objective: Swallow syncope is a rare cause of syncope that belongs to the neurally mediated reflex syncopal syndromes, which can induce a variety of bradyarrhythmias: sinus bradycardia, sinus arrest, sinoatrial block, atrioventricular block, or atrial and ventricular asystole. In this case, we demonstrated that dietary modification or pacemaker implantation improved swallow syncope due to sinus arrest.>.

Combination of asystole and sinus arrest with junctional escape rhythm seen in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: A case report

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized by a transient depression of contractile function of mid and/or apical segments of the left ventricle with compensatory hyperkinesis of the basal segment. It leads to ballooning of the apex in systole, resembling an octopus trap, hence the name. There have been many different arrhythmias associated with TCM. These occurrences are not benign, with atrial fibrillation, atrio-ventricular block, and ventricular fibrillation most commonly associated with inpatient mortality in that order. Here we present a unique case of TCM with respect to arrhythmia. After a literature review, this is the only case to our knowledge with the rare combination of asystole and sinus arrest with junctional escape rhythm during the patient's initial presentation. <Learning objective: (i) Observe a case with a unique combination of arrhythmias in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) never previously documented in the literature. (ii) Review the incidence of TCM and associated arrhythmia with inpatient mortality. (iii) Review the incidence of junctional escape rhythm associated with TCM.>.