Acute Idiopathic Gastric Distension Causing Atrioventricular Block and Cardiogenic Shock

Abstract

Background: We report a rare case of acute idiopathic gastric dilatation with associated severe bradycardia and shock.

Case report: A 69-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) with complaint of chest pain and dyspnea. The patient required transvenous cardiac pacing for profound bradycardia and cardiogenic shock. After a negative emergent cardiac catheterization, a flat plate abdominal x-ray study demonstrated massive gastric dilatation, prompting nasogastric tube placement, with subsequent rapid improvement of the patient's cardiovascular and metabolic instability. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case highlights the rare though potentially catastrophic complications of acute gastric dilatation, and benefits of early intervention with gastric decompression.

Keywords: abdominal compartment syndrome; acute gastric distension; cardiogenic shock; nasogastric decompression; third degree heart block; transvenous pacing.