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Pseudo second degree atrioventricular block resulting from blocked His premature beats was successfully treated with quinidine. The diagnosis was proved by His bundle electrogam which showed both blocked and conducted His premature beats. The blocked His prematures produced second degree atrioventricular block by making the atrioventricular junction refractory. Quinidine abolished both conducted and blocked His extrasystoles. There has been no recurrence of arrhythmia during a one-year follow-up.

A case of atrioventricular reciprocal rhythm and chronic reciprocating tachycardia in a newborn infant is presented. Electrophysiological studies suggest that these rhythm disturbances are related to the presence of a right-sided atrioventricular accessory pathway capable only of retrograde conduction (concealed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome). The technique of recording the sequence of atrial activation during the tachycardia is described and its clinical importance emphasised.

This report presents a serious adverse reaction to the anticonvulsant compound carbamazepine. A woman was admitted to hospital for recurrent attacks of syncope. She suffered from atrioventricular block of the Mobitz type II. Carbamazepine suppressed the conduction in her already defective Purkinje fibres and induced ventricular stand-still with subsequent Adams-Stokes attacks.

A patient is presented in whom the heart reverted spontaneously to sinus rhythm 11 years after surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect complicated by complete heart block. It seems unlikely that regeneration of fibres in the bundle of His, if these had indeed been destroyed, could account for the restoration of sinus rhythm after so long an interval.

This report describes 16 patients with block within the His bundle seen over a period of 55 months. Ten were women and 6 men, with an average age of 76 years, range, 42 to 98 years. All patients had His bundle recordings showing split His bundle potentials (H and H) (13 patients) or narrow QRS with block distal to the His bundle potential (3 patients). Of the 16 patients, 10 had complete heart block, 4 second degree AV block (2 patients with Mobitz type II, and 2 with 2:1), and 2 first degree AV block. Ten patients had a narrow QRS in the conducted beats or escape rhythms. Intravenous atropine (1 to 2 mg) had a variable effect on AV conduction and the rate of the escape rhythm. Twelve patients have had a permanent pacemaker implanted. During the follow-up period, 10 patients died 1 to 31 months from the time of initial examination. The remaining 6 patients (5 with pacemaker) are alive 3 to 58 months later.