Transient atrioventricular block resulting from left ventricular angiography in infants with ventricular septal defect

Abstract

Conduction disturbances often occur with manipulation of catheters within the atria or ventricles during cardiac catheterization.1,2 Catheter movement may induce transient right or left bundle branch block, or complete heart block in patients with or without preexistent bundle branch block.3-6 To our knowledge, however, there have been no previous reports of complete heart block resulting from an intramyocardial stain in the region of the atrioventricular (AV) conduction system. This report describes 2 infants who developed transient complete heart block following injection of contrast medium in the left ventricle. In each, complete heart block resulted from the intra-myocardial injection of contrast medium in the region of the AV conduction system.