Syncope Caused By Cardiac Asystole During Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography

Syncope caused by cardiac asystole during dobutamine stress echocardiography occurred in a 60 year old woman presenting with chest pain and a non-diagnostic exercise test. Cardiac asystole was not associated with myocardial ischaemia and was attributed to a powerful cardioinhibitory vagal reflex elicited by the stimulation by the drug of cardiac and aortic mechanoreceptors. Cardiac asystole was Case report promptly reversed by the administration of atropine with no significant sequelae.