Paroxysmal AV block Initial Approach
Overview
An initial evaluation strategy of taking a detailed history, physical examination, risk stratification, ECG recording and BP measurement should help decide what investigations should be ordered (based on whether the syncope is cardiac related, reflex/neutrally mediated, secondary to cerebrovascular disease or due to orthostatic hypotension).
Initial Approach
- The pathway to conclusively diagnosing a patient with paroxysmal AV block is not straightforward.
- Since most patients present with a history of recurrent unexplained syncope and fortuitous timing would be required to document classical ECG findings during an acute episode, it would be best to treat it as a diagnosis of exclusion.
- An initial evaluation strategy of taking a detailed history, physical examination, risk stratification, ECG recording and BP measurement should help decide what investigations should be ordered (based on whether the syncope is cardiac related, reflex/neutrally mediated, secondary to cerebrovascular disease or due to orthostatic hypotension). "ESC Guidelines on Syncope (Diagnosis and Management of)".
2018 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline on the Evaluation and Management of Patients With Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Delay: Approach to AV Block
References
- ↑ Kusumoto FM, Schoenfeld MH, Barrett C, Edgerton JR, Ellenbogen KA, Gold MR; et al. (2019). "2018 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline on the Evaluation and Management of Patients With Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Delay: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines, and the Heart Rhythm Society". J Am Coll Cardiol. 74 (7): 932–987. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.10.043. PMID 30412710.