A Deceptively Unremarkable Standstill: A Case Report of a Rare Cardiac Electrophysiologic Event

Abstract

Ventricular standstill is a rare cardiac event associated with a high mortality. It is considered a ventricular fibrillation equivalent. The longer the duration, the poorer the prognosis. It is therefore unusual for an individual to have recurrent episodes of standstill and survive, without morbidity and rapid mortality. Here, we report the unique case of a 67-year-old male, previously diagnosed with heart disease, requiring intervention, who lived with recurrent syncopal episodes for a decade. Though such occurrences have previously been documented, we seek to stress the importance of using clinical tools in assessing what could easily have been passed off as orthostatic in origin.