CONGENITAL COMPLETE HEART-BLOCK AND LONG Q-T SYNDROME REQUIRING VENTRICULAR PACING FOR CONTROL OF REFRACTORY VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA AND FIBRILLATION

A three-year-old girl with congenital complete heart block presented with repeated bouts of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. The ECG was remarkable for both complete heart block and a long Q-T interval, when corrected for rate. The Q-T interval was longer than the Q-T interval of children with congenital complete heart block and of children without heart disease. Overdrive ventricular pacing was necessary to control the arrhythmias. A prolonged Q-T interval in patients with complete heart block, even in the presence of a normal QRS duration, may predispose the patient to sudden death. Permanent pacing can suppress these arrhythmias by overdriving. © 1979.