Complete heart block developing during aortic valvuloplasty

We report the occurrence of CHB consequent to ABV in an 80-year-old white woman with calcific aortic stensosi. The patient underwent ABV with a balloon 20 mm in diameter, resulting in only a modest increase in arotic valve area and a decrease in aortic valve gradient. The procedure was complicated by transient intermittent CHB which required temporary transvenous pacemaking and resolved within 72 hours. A second ABV was performed four weeks later with a balloon 23 mm in diameter. This was complicated by persistent CHB which required placement of a dual-chamber pacemaker.