Coexisting auricular fibrillation and complete heart block

The interesting phenomenon of concurrent auricular fibrillation and complete heart block has been studied in a series of ten cases. At least two important points are to be gained from this analysis: 1. 1. The presence of this combination, in the absence of digitalis effect, implies a serious prognosis. All ten patients had advanced cardiac or cardiovascular disease. 2. 2. It is important both prognostically and therapeutically to distinguish between complete heart block incident to intrinsic cardiopathy and complete heart block of digitalization. In cases in which symptoms of digitalis intoxication are slight or absent the distinction can be made by observing serial electrocardiographic tracings.