Lyme disease may require what temporary cardiac intervention due to AV block?

• A. Temporary pacemaker
• B. Defibrillator
• C. Cardiac transplant
• D. Stent

Answer: (A)

Lyme disease can involve the heart and inflame the conduction system, causing atrioventricular block. When the AV block is present, the ventricles may not pace adequately, leading to a slow heart rate and reduced blood flow. In this acute setting, the priority is to maintain a safe heart rate and perfusion while antibiotics treat the infection and allow the conduction system to recover. A temporary pacemaker provides reliable pacing support during this reversible block, bridging the patient until conduction returns or a longer-term solution is needed. The other options aren’t suited to this scenario: a defibrillator treats fast, abnormal rhythms rather than bradycardia from AV block; a cardiac transplant is for irreversible end-stage disease; a stent addresses a blocked coronary artery, not conduction problems.