Pacemaker-induced apnoea in a patient with cervical medullary trauma: a case report

This case describes dual-chamber defibrillator implantation in a patient with cervical spinal cord trauma, who developed sudden apnoea associated with atrial capture. This may have inadvertently stimulated the vagus nerve, sending an inhibitory signal to the brain stem, resulting in a sudden respiratory rate drop. Although rare, this phenomenon should be considered when implanting pacing systems in patients with high cervical injuries.