A stroke patient with an unusual electrocardiogram

Abstract

We present a case of a 70 year old man with a history of paroxysmal atrial flutter who was admitted to the hospital with symptoms and imaging consistent with an acute stroke. Physical exam was notable for a pulse rate of 50 beats per minute and right sided facial droop with mild dysarthria. Admission ECG shows a junctional bradycardia with evidence of dual AV node physiology, rarely manifested in a retrograde fashion on a standard ECG. The patient likely experienced parasympathetic sinus node slowing in the setting of acute stroke. During post-stroke monitoring, the patient demonstrated return of sinus rhythm with chronotropic competence and he had no additional arrhythmia during admission.