First Degree AV Block

First Degree AV Block

David Ray Velez, MD

A Delay in Impulse Transmission from the Atria to the Ventricles without Interruption

  • A Benign Finding that Does Not Cause Hemodynamic Instability and is Almost Always Asymptomatic

EKG Pattern

  • Prolonged PR Interval > 200 ms
  • No Interruption in AV Conduction

First Degree AV Block

Causes

  • High Resting Vagal Tone – Athletes
  • Structural Nodal Abnormalities
  • Myocardial Infarction (MI)
  • Myocarditis
  • Mitral Valve Repair (MVR)
  • Electrolyte Derangements
  • Medications (Beta-Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Digoxin, etc.)

Treatment

  • The Majority of Patients Require No Specific Treatment
  • May Rarely Consider Permanent Pacemaker Placement in Select Patients that are Symptomatic