A case of Brugada Syndrome unmasked by a postoperative febrile state

Jharendra Rijal; Smith Giri; Sumesh Khanal; Khagendra Dahal

A case of Brugada Syndrome unmasked by a postoperative febrile state

Caspian J Intern Med. 2015 Winter;6(1):43-5.

Authors

Jharendra Rijal¹, Smith Giri², Sumesh Khanal³, Khagendra Dahal⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, 475 Seaview Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305, USA.
² Department of Medicine, University of Tennesse Health Science Center, 956 Court Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
³ Department of Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, PO Box 1524, Kathmandu, Nepal.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Lakes Region General Hospital 80 Highland Street, Laconia, NH 3246, USA.

PMID: 26221497
PMCID: PMC4478119

Abstract

Background: Brugada Syndrome (BS) is an inherited ion channelopathy characterized by an electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern of a coved type ST segment elevation in right precordial leads with or without right bundle branch block.

Case presentation: A 23-year old male presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Further evaluation revealed a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The patient developed a febrile episode on second post-operative day of laparoscopic appendectomy. ECG revealed features consistent with BS. Prompt control of temperature in the patient resolved the ST-segment elevation and prevented potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.

Conclusion: Febrile episodes in susceptible patients may unmask a concealed BS. Prompt control of temperature is advocated to reduce the risk of life-threatening arrythmias.

Keywords: Arrythmias; Brugada Syndrome; Electrocardiogram; appendectomy; fever.

Publication types

Case Reports