Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2013 Apr;64(4):363-6.
doi: 10.4097/kjae.2013.64.4.363. Epub 2013 Apr 22.

Complete atrioventricular nodal block after propofol administration in an elderly patient undergoing total knee replacement arthroplasty -A case report-

Affiliations

Complete atrioventricular nodal block after propofol administration in an elderly patient undergoing total knee replacement arthroplasty -A case report-

Jung-Il Noh et al. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2013 Apr.

Abstract

Complete atrioventricular (AV) block is defined as a dissociation of atrial and ventricular activities. Complete AV block that occurs during the perioperative period is difficult to reverse and usually requires implantation of a pacemaker. Propofol does not affect a normal AV conduction system but may act as a trigger for AV block. It can also potentiate vagal stimulation factors and reduce sympathetic activity. We report a case of complete AV block that may have been related to administration of propofol.

Keywords: Arrhythmia; Atrioventricular block; Pacemaker; Propofol.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preoperative electrocardiogram.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Complete atrioventricular block that occurred when propofol was injected.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Electrocardiogram taken after insertion of a permanent pacemaker.

References

    1. Johansson BW. Complete heart block. A clinical, hemodynamic and pharmacological study in patients with and without an artificial pacemaker. Acta Med Scand Suppl. 1966;451:1–127. - PubMed
    1. Rosen KM, Dhingra RC, Loeb HS, Rahimtoola SH. Chronic heart block in adults. Clinical and electrophysiological observations. Arch Intern Med. 1973;131:663–672. - PubMed
    1. Deegan RJ. Propofol: a review of the pharmacology and applications of an intravenous anesthetic agent. Am J Med Sci. 1992;304:45–49. - PubMed
    1. Fudickar A, Bein B. Propofol infusion syndrome: update of clinical manifestation and pathophysiology. Minerva Anestesiol. 2009;75:339–344. - PubMed
    1. Alphin RS, Martens JR, Dennis DM. Frequency-dependent effects of propofol on atrioventricular nodal conduction in guinea pig isolated heart. Mechanism and potential antidysrhythmic properties. Anesthesiology. 1995;83:382–394. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources