Peri-operative management and administration of anaesthesia in children with congenital complete heart block. A case report and review.

The clinical presentation and natural history of congenital complete heart block (CHB) differ from those of acquired third-degree heart block. Although perioperative prophylactic cardiac pacing is considered mandatory in patients with acquired CHB, it is not usually necessary in children with asymptomatic congenital heart block. The anaesthetist should be able to identify which patients require temporary perioperative pacing, and should modify his anaesthetic technique appropriately for patients who do not. An 8-year-old patient with congenital CHB who required emergency surgery for acute appendicitis is presented and the anaesthetic management, including the indications for pacing, is discussed.