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Acute fulminant myocarditis complicated by complete atrioventricular block with favourable outcome in a resource-limited setting
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Kha n University, Karachi, Pakistan
Corresponding
author:
S Akhtar
(saleem.sadqani@aku.edu)
Complete heart block in paediatric acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) is rare and carries a grave prognosis. Aggressive haemodynamic support, especially mechanical support, i.e. with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator during the initial presentation, improves the outcome in such patients. Unavailability of mechanical support in developing countries warrants aggressive rhythm management to achieve haemodynamic stability. We report a case of a 5-month-old who presented with AFM complicated with complete heart block. Quick recognition, aggressive cardiopulmonary management and transcatheter placement of a temporary pacemaker as soon as possible resulted in complete recovery in this patient. Aggressive management with rhythm control can lead to a favourable outcome in paediatric patients with AFM complicated by complete heart block, even in a resource-limited set-up.
S Afr J CH
2015;9(1):30-32. DOI:10.7196/SAJCH.656
Myocarditis has an estimated incidence of 10 in 100 000 and is the most common acquired cause of cardiac failure requiring heart transplant in children. 1 , 2 Viruses form the main aetiological basis, with Coxsackie B virus being responsible for the majority of viral myocarditis cases.2 The clinical presentation of myocarditis varies from mild fever, flu-like symptoms and malaise to complete cardiovascular collapse, being acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM).3 AFM is characterised by sudden onset of severe and extensive haemodynamic compromise.4 Complete atrioventricular heart block (CAVB) is a rare complication of myocarditis and contributes to further haemodynamic compromise. 5 Although more dramatic in its presentation, if it is managed aggressively with mechanical circulatory support, affected patients may have full recovery and less risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. 4 In a limited-resource setting where mechanical cardiac support is not available, immediate recognition, management and rhythm control may be the only hope for a favourable outcome.
This case report presents a 5-month-old boy
with AFM complicated with CAVB and cardiogenic shock to
emphasise the value of early recognition of the disease and the
associated rhythm disturbances, timely interventions and
aggressive protocol-based management.
Case report
A 5-month-old, previously healthy male presented to the
emergency room (ER) of a tertiary care hospital with a 5-day
history of high-grade, intermittent fever with associated
cough and decreased appetite. He had developed significant
respiratory distress 12 - 14 hours
prior to his arrival at the ER. The child appeared drowsy and
pale, with mottled, cool, clammy skin. Moreover, he was in
acute respiratory distress. He was afebrile (36.8°C)
but was found to be hypotensive, tachypneic and bradycardic
(40 beats per minute (bpm)). His peripheral pulses were
irregular and feeble, while peripheral perfusion was poor
(>3 s). Abdominal examination revealed a palpable
liver edge, 4 - 5 cm below the costal
margin. The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) findings were
consistent with CAVB. Emergent echocardiogram (ECHO) revealed
a structurally normal heart, but with moderate to severe
biventricular systolic dysfunction with an ejection fraction
of 30%. Initial laboratory work-up revealed
raised troponin I levels of 44.5 ng/mL. Serum
electrolytes showed serum creatinine 0.8 mg/dL, blood
urea nitrogen (BUN) 31 mg/dL, bicarbonate
15.8 mmol/L, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase 2
695 IU/L, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase 7 559 IU/L
and serum creatine phosphokinase 1 967 IU/L.
Provisional diagnosis was AFM with cardiogenic shock.
He was started on aggressive supportive therapy with fluids,
oxygen and inotropes. Owing to CAVB and haemodynamic
instability, emergent temporary pacemaker insertion was
planned. A catheterisation laboratory was available and thus
intravenous (IV) pacemaker insertion was planned rather than transcutaneous
pacing. While in the ER, the patient went into asystole.
Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated and the
patient revived in 4 - 5 minutes. He was immediately
rushed to the catheterisation laboratory where
the temporary transvenous pacing catheter was inserted into
the right ventricle at midseptal level (pacing rate: 120
bpm; output: 1 mA; sensitivity: 2; mode:
Demand). The ECG at the beginning of catheterisation is shown
in Fig. 1. ER presentation to pacemaker placement time (‘door
to pacemaker’ time) was <60 minutes.
After the successful procedure, he was moved to the cardiac
intensive care unit (CICU). Over the course of his CICU
admission, he had persistent hypotension, which was adequately
managed by inotropic support with dopamine and milrinone.
Treatment with IV immunoglobulin (IVIG) and methyl prednisolone
(for inotrope resistant shock) was initiated.
Fig. 1. ECG strip of the patient at the beginning of catheterisation, showing complete heart block.
The patient did not develop any
subsequent rhythm disturbances and no changes were made to the
pacemaker setting over the course of his CICU stay. There was
a pacer check every day to see if the patient returned back to
sinus rhythm (>80 bpm).
According to the CICU treatment protocol and based on the
patient’s clinical status and haemodynamic stability, support
was weaned accordingly (the patient was extubated before
pacemaker removal and the inotropes were subsequently weaned
off as tolerated by the patient). Intermittent
and eventually sustained atrioventricular conduction returned
on the 4th day after admission. The convalescent rhythm was
sinus with heart rate at 139 bpm
(Fig. 2). Following the improvement in his clinical and
cardiac functioning status, the child was finally
extubated on the 6th day after admission. IV inotropic support
was gradually weaned and the transvenous pacemaker was removed
on 7th day after admission. The child gradually improved and
the subsequent echocardiograms done on the 8th
day after admission showed normal biventricular function with
an improved ejection fraction of 70%. The patient was
eventually discharged on the 12th day after admission. At
latest follow-up he had made a full recovery. An extensive
work-up to determine the etiology of myocarditis could not be
done owing to financial constraints. The mother of the patient
was not screened for subclinical lupus.
Fig. 2. ECG at convalescence showing sinus rhythm with heart rate of 139 bpm.
Discussion
AFM complicated by CAVB carries a grave prognosis if not
managed aggressively. Early recognition, rhythm control and
institution of mechanical cardiac support improves the
outcome.6
Unfortunately, owing to financial constraints and dearth of
resources in the developing world, mechanical circulatory
devices are not available to be used in all cases of AFM.
However, as shown by this case report, aggressive
protocol-based management including adequate
inotropic support, ventilation and respiratory
support, and timely interventions such as
pacemaker insertion, can bear satisfactory results and be
lifesaving (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3. Paediatric intensive care unit management protocol for patients presenting with myocarditis. (PPV = positive pressure ventilation; CVS = cardiovascular system; BiPAP = Bilevel positive airway pressure; CVL = central venous line; IJV = internal jugular vein; SVC = superior vena cava; VO2 = venous oxygen saturation; Q = every; Pro-BNP = Pro-brain natriuretic peptide; CNS = central nervous system; bpm = beats per minute; SBP = systolic blood pressure; ACE = angiotensin converting enzyme; IVIG = intravenous immunoglobulin; I/O = intake output record; BUN/Cr = blood urea nitrogen/creatinine; LMWH = low molecular weight heparin; DVT = deep venous thrombosis.)
It is important to understand that CAVB in myocarditis, though dramatic in presentation, has the potential for full recovery the majority of the time. A systematic review identified a total of 40 patients <20 years of age.5 Of these, 27 (67%) returned to atrioventricular conduction within 7 days of admission, 11 (28%) required permanent pacing owing to persistent atrioventricular blockage, while 2 (5%) passed away. Similarly, Chien et al.7 identified 9 children with AFM complicated with CAVB, of whom 6 regained normal sinus rhythm, 2 developed persistent CAVB, 1 received permanent pacemaker implantation and 1 died due to persistent low cardiac output and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Our case demonstrated complete recovery by the 8th day after admission.
Early recognition of CAVB rhythm in children with AFM and timely intervention with prompt pacemaker insertion is crucial in these instances, and can be lifesaving as demonstrated by this case report. Any delay in the treatment can lead to further complications such as VT and irreversible cardiogenic shock. The literature has reported deaths in cases of myocarditis complicated with CAVB attributed to ventricular arrest.8 Short periods of VT remain a possibility even after pacemaker insertion, and the risk is greatest during the first 2 days after pacemaker insertion. Thus, careful close monitoring and immediate treatment is recommended, as VT can lead to severe haemodynamic compromise. Periods of VT can be a marker of ongoing or exacerbated myocardial damage and should be aggressively treated to avoid death.9
A protocol-driven management of such patients can help to streamline care with the intention of improving the outcome. The crux of these protocols should be early recognition and timely (hour-by-hour) management as done in patients presenting with septic shock. Eventually, a decreased cardiac output despite pacemaker insertion and the need for excessive inotropic support is a sign of a poor prognosis. In such instances, early establishment of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to optimise cardiac output gives the best chance of survival, which unfortunately is not available in limited-resource settings.8
In conclusion, outcome can be improved with
early recognition and aggressive management of CAVB in patients
with myocarditis. Protocol-based management in the ER can
significantly improve the outcomes for these patients (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4. ER management protocol for patients presenting with myocarditis. (AGE/URTI = acute gastroenteritis/upper respiratory tract infection; Trop I = troponin I; pro-BNP = pro-brain natriuretic peptide; RBS = random blood sugar; ALT/AST =Alanine/aspartate amino transferase; CXR = chest X-ray; NPO = nothing per oral; CBC = complete blood count.)
References
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3. Amabile N, Fraisse A, Bouvenot J, Chetaille P, Ovaert C. Outcome of acute fulminant myocarditis in children. Heart 2006;92(9):1269-1273. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/hrt.2005.078402]
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