Neurologic complications of brady-arrhythmias

Brady-arrhythmias are responsible for both overt as well as subtle neurologic signs and symptoms, from the seemingly benign and nonspecific symptoms associated with presyncope, to sudden focal neurologic deficits. A brief background on nodal and infra-nodal brady-arrhythmias is provided, followed by extensive discussion regarding neurologic complications of brady-arrhythmias. The multiple mechanisms of and associations between Brady-arrhythmias and transient ischemic attacks and ischemic stroke are discussed. Controversial associations between brady-arrhythmias and neurologic disease are discussed as well, such as potential roles of brady-arrhythmias in cognitive impairment and sequelae of chronotropic incompetence; and the contribution of brady-arrhythmias to syncope and associated injuries to the nervous system. The chapter is written to stand on its own, with guidance toward other pertinent sections of this text where appropriate for further reading.