Acute problems in the coronary care unit that do not require intervention. IV. Acute block in the A-V node

Second- and third-degree (complete) A-V block due to an acute inferior wall myocardiac infarction does not require any treatment if the heart rate (from the junctional pacemaker) is in a range that permits an adequate blood pressure with adequate peripheral perfusion. The patient is watched carefully for any symptomatic fall in blood pressure in order to promptly correct a bradycardia-related fall in cardiac output. The clinical state of the patient with the arrhythmia is treated, and not just the arrhythmia.