Kang Ting-Jui, Wu Chia-Chan, Lu Cheng-Wei, Jean Wei-Horng, Yang Mei-Hui, Lin Tzu-Yu
Department of Anesthesiology, Far-Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan. 2008 Sep;46(3):138-41. doi: 10.1016/S1875-4597(08)60009-0.
We report a 20-year-old male patient with preoperatively undiagnosed myocarditis, who received general anesthesia for laparoscopic appendectomy. Because of arrhythmia, a cardiologist was consulted postoperatively. The 12-lead electrocardiogram showed complete atrioventricular block and the echocardiogram showed global hypokinesia of the left ventricle with impaired contractility, a left ejection fraction of 37%, and a dilated right heart. Subsequently, a permanent pacemaker was implanted and the patient was discharged from hospital without any complications.
