Atrioventricular block (AVB) is a cardiac arrhythmia in which there is a disturbance in the conduction of the electrical stimulus between the different chambers of the heart, atria and ventricles. Second-degree AVB involves a discontinuous interruption of conduction from the atria to the ventricles.
There are two types: type I (Mobitz I or Wenckebach) and type II (Mobitz II).
In second-degree AVB Mobitz II, there is an intermittent block of the electrical stimulus generated in the atria that does not lead to the ventricles.
It is caused by congenital heart disease, myocardial infections (myocarditis) and cardiac surgery.
It manifests with dizziness, shortness of breath during exertion, irregular heartbeat and in more severe cases, loss of consciousness, even causing sudden cardiac arrest.
Diagnosis is based on clinical examination and physical examination. It is confirmed with an electrocardiogram showing an electrical conduction block.
In symptomatic cases, the patient should be stabilized with medication that accelerates the heart rate. If symptoms are severe or the arrhythmia causes organ failure, urgent pacemaker placement is recommended until definitive pacemaker placement.
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