Late asystole in high cervical spinal cord injury: case report.

A patient with delayed episodes of extreme bradycardia, asystole and syncope occurring 5 to 9 weeks after traumatic high cervical spinal cord injury is described. Temporary transvenous ventricular pacing followed by oral propantheline was required to prevent further episodes. The investigation, physiology and treatment of this arrhythmia in tetraplegia are discussed.