PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mohamad Soud
AU  - Abdulah Alrifai
AU  - Amjad Kabach
AU  - Zaher Fanari
AU  - M. Chadi Alraies
TI  - Trauma-Induced Conduction Disturbances
AID  - 10.31486/toj.17.0116
DP  - 2018 Sep 21
TA  - Ochsner Journal
PG  - 277--279
VI  - 18
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/18/3/277.short
4100  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/18/3/277.full
SO  - Ochsner J2018 Sep 21; 18
AB  - Background: Electrical disturbances following blunt cardiac injuries are rare but can be caused by electrical or structural damage to the heart. We present the case of a patient who had conduction abnormalities following blunt traumatic injury that were incidentally detected on telemetry.Case Report: A 64-year-old female with no history of cardiac disease was brought to the emergency department after a motor vehicle collision that resulted in chest wall bruising. The patient was found to have L-spine fractures and was admitted for observation. During her hospitalization, the patient had multiple episodes of heart block. A temporary pacemaker was inserted because of the recurrent episodes, and a dual-chamber permanent pacemaker was placed on day 4 of her hospitalization.Conclusion: Heart block as a consequence of blunt cardiac injury is rare; however, it needs to be recognized as early as possible. Permanent pacemaker placement is usually indicated for patients with prolonged or recurrent episodes.