Anaesthetic management in a neonate with congenital complete heart block

We present the case of a neonate undergoing surgery on the first day of life for the installation of a permanent pacemaker because of the existence of congenital complete heart block (CCHB) with a basal heart rate of 43 b.min(-1) and minimal elevation after initiating an isoproterenol perfusion. The intervention was under general anaesthesia with laryngeal mask airway (LMA(TM)) and spontaneous ventilation. The principal anaesthetic goals were to assure adequate anaesthesia, with haemodynamic and respiratory stability, to maintain the best possible heart rate and to avoid postoperative respiratory depression or apnoea.