Electrocution induced symptomatic bradycardia necessitating pacemaker implantation

• Main Author: Kuan Leong Yew
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
• Series: Heart Views
• Subjects: Autonomic resetting; electrical injury; electrocution; pacemaker; poor chronotropic response; sinus bradycardia; vagal tone predominance
• Online Access: http://www.heartviews.org/article.asp?issn=1995-705X;year=2014;volume=15;issue=2;spage=49;epage=50;aulast=Yew

Electrical or electrocution injury is a common accidental occurrence and mostly workplace related. Fatal arrhythmias, skin injury and sudden death may ensue. However, it is rare for electrocution to result in permanent low rate sinus bradycardia, incompatible with an active lifestyle. The probable mechanisms for this pathological sinus bradycardia are sinus node dysfunction and autonomic dysfunction with vagal predominance. We describe a young patient who suffered a non fatal electrocution with resultant low rate sinus bradycardia and its successful treatment with a dual chamber rate responsive pacemaker.