eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: Cardiac Disease and Critical Care Medicine > Cardiology

Atrioventricular Block, Second Degree: Multimedia

Author: M Silvana Horenstein, MD, Consultant, Pediatric and Fetal Cardiac Diagnostic, Diagnostico Gineco-Obstetrico, PC; Associate Medical Director, Legacy Department, Best Doctors, Inc
Coauthor(s): Robert Murray Hamilton, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Section Head, Electrophysiology, Director, High-Risk Hereditary Heart Conditions Clinic, Labatt Family Heart Centre; Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Associate Scientist, Physiology and Experimental Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children and Research Institute, University of Toronto, Canada
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Sep 19, 2008

Multimedia

A common pattern of second-degree atrioventricula...
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Media file 1: A common pattern of second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block consists of gradual prolongation of the PR interval leading up to a nonconducted P wave; this pattern is known as Wenckebach AV block, or Mobitz I AV block. This rhythm strip is an example of classic Mobitz I or Wenckebach AV block, in which the PR interval prolongs by sequentially smaller increments, with consequent shortening of the RR intervals until the blocked beat occurs. However, classic Wenckebach block is present in only a minority of cases. Wenckebach block is most easily diagnosed by comparing the PR interval following the blocked beat with the PR interval preceding the blocked beat; if the PR interval shortens following the blocked beat, the block is most likely of the Wenckebach type.
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A common pattern of second-degree atrioventricula...

A common pattern of second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block consists of gradual prolongation of the PR interval leading up to a nonconducted P wave; this pattern is known as Wenckebach AV block, or Mobitz I AV block. This rhythm strip is an example of classic Mobitz I or Wenckebach AV block, in which the PR interval prolongs by sequentially smaller increments, with consequent shortening of the RR intervals until the blocked beat occurs. However, classic Wenckebach block is present in only a minority of cases. Wenckebach block is most easily diagnosed by comparing the PR interval following the blocked beat with the PR interval preceding the blocked beat; if the PR interval shortens following the blocked beat, the block is most likely of the Wenckebach type.

If the PR interval fails to shorten following a b...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 2: If the PR interval fails to shorten following a blocked beat, non-Wenckebach AV block (or Mobitz II AV block) is said to be present. This block is usually located more distally in the His bundle or the His bundle branches, or both, and the escape rates are usually slower and less stable.
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If the PR interval fails to shorten following a b...

If the PR interval fails to shorten following a blocked beat, non-Wenckebach AV block (or Mobitz II AV block) is said to be present. This block is usually located more distally in the His bundle or the His bundle branches, or both, and the escape rates are usually slower and less stable.

More on Atrioventricular Block, Second Degree

Overview: Atrioventricular Block, Second Degree
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Atrioventricular Block, Second Degree
Treatment & Medication: Atrioventricular Block, Second Degree
Follow-up: Atrioventricular Block, Second Degree
Multimedia: Atrioventricular Block, Second Degree
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

atrioventricular, AV, second-degree atrioventricular block, second-degree AV block, Mobitz I AV block, Wenckebach AV block, Mobitz II AV block, non-Wenckebach AV block, heart block, third-degree atrioventricular block, dilated cardiomyopathy, syncope, presyncope, irregular pulse, heart failure, hepatomegaly, peripheral edema, neonatal lupus erythematosus, myocarditis, endocarditis, Lyme disease, rheumatic fever, hyperthyroidism, thyroid disease, corrected transposition of the great arteries, atrial septal defect, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, rhabdomyoma, acute rheumatic heart disease, Lyme carditis, cardiac dystrophies, lipodystrophies, premature aging syndromes, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, sickle cell disease, drug-induced torsade de pointes

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

M Silvana Horenstein, MD, Consultant, Pediatric and Fetal Cardiac Diagnostic, Diagnostico Gineco-Obstetrico, PC; Associate Medical Director, Legacy Department, Best Doctors, Inc
M Silvana Horenstein, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert Murray Hamilton, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Section Head, Electrophysiology, Director, High-Risk Hereditary Heart Conditions Clinic, Labatt Family Heart Centre; Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Associate Scientist, Physiology and Experimental Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children and Research Institute, University of Toronto, Canada
Robert Murray Hamilton, MD, MSc, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Heart Association, Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Medical Protective Association, Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, Heart Rhythm Society, Ontario Medical Association, Pediatric Electrophysiology Society, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Society for Pediatric Research
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Charles I Berul, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Senior Associate, Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Boston
Charles I Berul, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Heart Rhythm Society, and Society for Pediatric Research
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from financial planner; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from financial planner ; WebMD Salary and stock Employment and investment from financial planner

Managing Editor

Alvin J Chin, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Alvin J Chin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Heart Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Gilbert Herzberg, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, New York Medical College
Gilbert Herzberg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Steven R Neish, MD, SM, Director of Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Steven R Neish, MD, SM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, and American Heart Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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