Dopamine and epinephrine for managing complete atrioventricular block due to nonreperfused acute inferior wall myocardial infarction in a rural hospital: A case report

Abstract

Inferior wall myocardial infarction occurs in approximately 50% of all myocardial infarctions. The most common conduction disorder of this disease is complete atrioventricular block. Immediate attention must be given to the myocardial infarction patients with conduction block due to the increased mortality rate in these patients. Temporary pacemaker implantation and permanent pacemaker implantation are recommended in complete atrioventricular block cases that do not improve with reperfusion. In this case report, a 64-year-old-female patient came to the emergency department of a rural General Hospital with complaints of epigastric pain, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting for 2 days before admission. She had uncontrolled hypertension without a history of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, or a family history of heart disease. The electrocardiogram displayed an acute inferior wall myocardial infarction and complete atrioventricular block with escape junctional rhythm with a heart rate of 17 bpm. She was diagnosed with nonreperfused inferior wall myocardial infarction and a complete atrioventricular block. She was successfully treated with only dopamine and epinephrine as the definitive treatment because the patient refused to be referred to a tertiary hospital for percutaneous coronary intervention and pacemaker implantation due to financial reasons. Dopamine and epinephrine may be considered for complete atrioventricular block if transfer to a higher level of care is not feasible and as bridge therapy while waiting for transfer.