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Atypical Presentation of COVID-19 with Complete Heart Block
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  • Sheharyar Minhas,
  • Ahmed Minhas,
  • Maira Malik,
  • Sunil Dhar
Sheharyar Minhas
Nazareth Hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Ahmed Minhas
East Tennessee State University James H Quillen College of Medicine
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Maira Malik
East Tennessee State University James H Quillen College of Medicine
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Sunil Dhar
Nazareth Hospital
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Abstract

Background Recent epidemiologic data has indicated coronavirus to be highly contagious with high risk of person-to-person transmission. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. With the increasing number of confirmed cases and the accumulating clinical data, the cardiac manifestations induced by COVID-19 have generated great concern. COVID-19 was also associated with cardiac arrest, acute-onset heart failure, and myocarditis. COVID-19 has not been reported as the cause of abnormalities of cardiac conduction system. Case Presentation Our patient was transferred from a long-term care facility with history of new onset bradycardia and fall. Patient had no classical symptoms of viral infection, including fever, dyspnea or any classical radiological finding like bilateral ground glass opacities. Initial EKG was noted for 3rd degree AV and heart rate 30 BPM. He was taken to cardiac catheterization lab for an emergent temporary transvenous pacemaker. Patient subsequently had permanent pacemaker implanted electively. Discussion and Conclusions This case represents cardiac conduction abnormality requiring therapeutic pacing as a presenting symptom of SARS-CoV-2 Health care professionals need to be vigilant about atypical, noval presentation of this disease in patients belonging to risk groups such as over 60 years age, immunocompromised, residents of long-term facilities, and with medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, stroke, renal disease, cirrhosis, and diabetes. Currently there is no proven treatment for this infection and individuals in these at-risk groups are susceptible to higher morbidity and mortality.