Late-presenting complete heart block after pediatric cardiac surgery

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Cardiac Surgery
• Electrophysiology

Background:

• Complete heart block is a rare but serious complication after pediatric cardiac surgery.
• Early diagnosis and management are crucial for favorable outcomes.
• Late presentation, years after initial repair, is particularly unusual.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a case of late-presenting complete heart block after atrioventricular septal defect repair.
• To discuss potential risk factors associated with this delayed complication.
• To review the management strategies for late-onset heart block in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a pediatric patient.
• Review of clinical course, including initial surgery and long-term follow-up.
• Discussion of diagnostic findings and pacemaker implantation.

Main Results:

• The patient initially had normal sinus rhythm post-surgery and for two years of follow-up.
• Complete heart block developed two years after the initial atrioventricular septal defect repair.
• Pacemaker insertion was successfully performed to manage symptomatic bradycardia.

Conclusions:

• Late-presenting complete heart block can occur years after pediatric cardiac surgery, even with initial normal rhythm.
• Understanding risk factors and recognizing this delayed complication is vital for timely intervention.
• Pacemaker implantation is an effective management strategy for this rare condition.