Conference abstract
A rare case of asystole in a patient complaining of syncope: a case report paroxysmal ventricular standstill
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:16(22).15
Mar 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.16.22.1885
Archived on: 15 Mar 2023
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Keywords: Syncope, asystole, paroxysmal ventricular standstill, Pacemaker
Poster
A rare case of asystole in a patient complaining of syncope: a case report paroxysmal ventricular standstill
Armel Djomou Ngongang1,2,&, Christian Ouanko Ngongang1,3, Etienne Verlain Fouedjio Kafack1,2
1Fondation Cœur et vie, Cameroun, 2Clinique Cœur et Vie, Cameroun, 3Faculté de Médecine et Sciences Biomédicales, Université de Dschang, Dschang, Cameroun
&Corresponding author
Introduction: syncope is a self-limited loss of consciousness that is followed by spontaneous recovery. Although spontaneous recovery, syncope could be life-threatening.
Methods: we present a rare case of Paroxysmal Ventricular Standstill (PVS), an unusual cardiac phenomenon in which the heart experiences episodes of absent ventricular activity despite normal atrial functioning, often leading to cardiac arrest and syncope as in our case.
Results: a 54-year-old male Cameroonian with no past relevant history consulted at our hospital for syncope. He presented with a 2-year history of repeated syncope and a 1-week history of death-like symptoms. Clinical examination was unremarkable. ECG, cardiac ultrasound, and lab investigations were normal except for leukopenia. A Holter-ECG placed for a day revealed eleven seconds of asystole and a spontaneous return to sinus bradycardia afterward. Our cardiologist confirmed a case of PVS and the patient urgently requested to undergo an urgent pacemaker placement.
Conclusion: knowing the difficulty to diagnose PVS, it is important to request a telemetry or a Holter-ECG when investigating for syncope in a patient without obvious cause.
A rare case of asystole in a patient complaining of syncope: a case report paroxysmal ventricular standstill
Armel Djomou Ngongang1,2,&, Christian Ouanko Ngongang1,3, Etienne Verlain Fouedjio Kafack1,2
1Fondation Cœur et vie, Cameroun, 2Clinique Cœur et Vie, Cameroun, 3Faculté de Médecine et Sciences Biomédicales, Université de Dschang, Dschang, Cameroun
&Corresponding author
Introduction: syncope is a self-limited loss of consciousness that is followed by spontaneous recovery. Although spontaneous recovery, syncope could be life-threatening.
Methods: we present a rare case of Paroxysmal Ventricular Standstill (PVS), an unusual cardiac phenomenon in which the heart experiences episodes of absent ventricular activity despite normal atrial functioning, often leading to cardiac arrest and syncope as in our case.
Results: a 54-year-old male Cameroonian with no past relevant history consulted at our hospital for syncope. He presented with a 2-year history of repeated syncope and a 1-week history of death-like symptoms. Clinical examination was unremarkable. ECG, cardiac ultrasound, and lab investigations were normal except for leukopenia. A Holter-ECG placed for a day revealed eleven seconds of asystole and a spontaneous return to sinus bradycardia afterward. Our cardiologist confirmed a case of PVS and the patient urgently requested to undergo an urgent pacemaker placement.
Conclusion: knowing the difficulty to diagnose PVS, it is important to request a telemetry or a Holter-ECG when investigating for syncope in a patient without obvious cause.
