Background: Epileptic seizures can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. The arrhythmias may be in the form of tachycardia, bradycardia or asystole. Ictal bradycardia and asystole can lead to sudden unexpected death.
Case presentation: A case report of a 40-year-old male with complex partial temporal lobe epilepsy. He has coincident attacks of fall and pallor. The patient underwent simultaneous electrocardiogram (ECG) and video electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring. The slow activity in EEG coincide with the appearance of bradycardia in ECG then cardiac asystole which clinically correspond to the patient syncope. After insertion of a cardiac pacemaker, only complex partial attacks develop with a marked reduction in frequency and no more fall attacks.
Conclusion: Epileptic seizures can present with cardiac arrhythmias, with ictal asystole leading to sudden unexpected death. Simultaneous EEG and ECG are essential for the diagnosis. A cardiac pacemaker can be lifesaving for patients with ictal arrhythmias.
Keywords: Cardiac arrhythmia; Epilepsy; Ictal asystole; Pacemaker; Simultaneous ECG and EEG.