A Case of Congenital Complete Atrioventricular Block Diagnosed before Delivery

Abstract

SUMMARYA case of isolated congenital complete complete atrioventricular block, which was diagnosed before delivery with graphical confirmation, was reported.The application of cardiac pacemaker was not contemplated. The prognosis of congenital atrioventricular block and the indication for the implantation of cardiac pacemaker were discussed. Additional Indexing Words: CardiotocographNeonatal heart disease Prognosis Operative indications ONGENITAL complete atrioventricular block is an uncommon condition but not rare. It was probably recognized in 1901, when Morquio described both its familial occurrence and the rare complication of StokesAdams attack with death in childhood.1) In 1908 Van Den Heuvel published the electrocardiogram of a patient with complete atrioventricular block and syncopal episodes from infancy.2) White and Eustis3) (1921) described combination of slow heart rate followed by electrocardiographic confirmation of complete atrioventricular block at birth. Davis and Stecher4) distinguished congenital from acquired complete atrioventricular block and shortly thereafter Yater5),6) suggested the following main diagnostic criteria for congenital complete atrioventricular block: (1) the auriculoventricular dissociation must be proved by graphic methods in a relatively young individual, (2) the bradycardia must have been noted at a fairly early age , and (3) there must not be