Transient heart block associated with head trauma

Atrioventricular nodal block is a rare consequence of head trauma. We report a case of a 63-year-old male with coronary artery disease who sustained a skull fracture. Twelve hours later the cardiac monitor recorded an episode of high-grade atrioventricular block with a ventricular escape rhythm. Subsequent electrophysiologic evaluation revealed no abnormality of atrioventricular nodal conduction nor of intraventricular conduction. Atrioventricular block after head trauma may be caused by enhanced vagal tone.