Third-Degree Atrioventricular Block And Asystole After Lung Resection: A Rare Complication

• Main Author: M. Castro, Patricia
• Publication Date: 2024
• Other Authors: Rei, Joana, Silva, Cátia, Miranda, José, Guerra, Miguel
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: https://doi.org/10.48729/pjctvs.407
• topic: Complete atrioventricular block; asystole; lung resection surgery; pacemaker; complication; cardiac conduction disorders

Surgical resection remains the optimal therapeutic option for early-stage operable NSCLC. Despite significant advances in recent years related to anesthetic and surgical techniques, cardiopulmonary complications remain major causes for postoperative morbimortality.  In this paper we present a case of a patient who developed complete AV block followed by asystole after lung resection surgery. The patient underwent surgery via right VATS and the procedure was uneventful.  On the first post-operative day patient developed a third-degree atrioventricular block followed by 6 seconds asystole. Pharmacological treatment was instituted and implementation of a permanent pacemaker occurred on the third post-operative day, without complications. The remaining postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged home on the sixth post-operative day.  It is the objective of the authors to report and highlight this rare and potencial fatal complication of lung resection.