Adams-Stokes Attacks due to Atrial and Ventricular Arrest, Treated by Vagotomy

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Abstract
This case report describes a 34-year old man who had had recurrent episodes of paroxysmal tachycardia since the age of 15. Lately he experienced the first of 3 episodes in which he lost consciousness. In one of these episodes an ecg showed atrial and ventricular standstill lasting 17 seconds. He also had many shorter episodes of cardiac arrest without loss of consciousness. Attempts to control these episodes of cardiac arrest by drugs were not successful. Right vagotomy in the neck was performed. In the 9 months of observation since this operation there have been no more episodes of asystole, though episodes of tachycardia have occurred since operation. Vagotomy is not advocated as a mode of treatment unless, as in this instance, all other therapy fails and the procedure is undertaken on an experimental basis.