Lyme disease may require what temporary cardiac intervention due to AV block?

Lyme disease may require what temporary cardiac intervention due to AV block?

• A. Temporary pacemaker
• B. Defibrillator
• C. Cardiac transplant
• D. Stent

Answer: (A)

Lyme disease can involve the heart and inflame the conduction system, causing atrioventricular block. When the AV block is present, the ventricles may not pace adequately, leading to a slow heart rate and reduced blood flow. In this acute setting, the priority is to maintain a safe heart rate and perfusion while antibiotics treat the infection and allow the conduction system to recover. A temporary pacemaker provides reliable pacing support during this reversible block, bridging the patient until conduction returns or a longer-term solution is needed. The other options aren’t suited to this scenario: a defibrillator treats fast, abnormal rhythms rather than bradycardia from AV block; a cardiac transplant is for irreversible end-stage disease; a stent addresses a blocked coronary artery, not conduction problems.

Lyme disease can involve the heart and inflame the conduction system, causing atrioventricular block. When the AV block is present, the ventricles may not pace adequately, leading to a slow heart rate and reduced blood flow. In this acute setting, the priority is to maintain a safe heart rate and perfusion while antibiotics treat the infection and allow the conduction system to recover. A temporary pacemaker provides reliable pacing support during this reversible block, bridging the patient until conduction returns or a longer-term solution is needed. The other options aren’t suited to this scenario: a defibrillator treats fast, abnormal rhythms rather than bradycardia from AV block; a cardiac transplant is for irreversible end-stage disease; a stent addresses a blocked coronary artery, not conduction problems.