Complete heart block complicating retrograde left heart catheterization

Authors :: C. V. R. Reddy
Robert Kipperman
Alan Feit
S Ursell
Source :: Catheterization and Cardiovascular Diagnosis. 20:131-132
Publication Year :: 1990
Publisher :: Wiley, 1990.
Abstract: Three cases of complete heart block complicating retrograde left heart catheterization are presented. In two of the three cases, electrophysiologic study documented block below the AV (atrial ventricular) node. In the third recurrent complete heart block was fatal. It appears that complete heart block complicating retrograde left sided cardiac catheterization is not simply a pericatheterization event; rather, it appears that there is high risk of recurrent complete heart block and that electrophysiologic study is mandatory.