BRASH Syndrome Presenting With Idioventricular Escape Rhythm in a Patient With Trifascicular Block

Bradycardia, renal failure, atrioventricular (AV) nodal disease, shock, and hyperkalemia (BRASH) syndrome is a well-recognized constellation of distinct clinicopathologic entities comprising bradycardia, renal failure, AV nodal disease, shock, and hyperkalemia. Our patient is an 89-year-old female with a past medical history significant for hypertension and diabetes, who was newly started on labetalol and had recent gastroenteritis; she presented to our Emergency Department with bradycardia and shock. Upon presentation, she showed physical signs of volume depletion, and her blood pressure was 50 mmHg systolic and heart rate was 25 beats per minute. The initial electrocardiogram showed an idioventricular rhythm. The laboratory workup revealed hyperkalemia. The patient was given repeated doses of atropine with no significant response. She was resuscitated with isotonic fluids. The patient improved clinically, her blood pressure stabilized, her potassium level, renal function, and heart rate were normalized, and normal sinus rhythm was restored with a narrow QRS complex. A diagnosis of BRASH syndrome was made retrospectively. Overall, the treatment of this syndrome is largely symptomatic. Hemodynamic support with fluid and treatment of hyperkalemia remains the goal of care. The overall prognosis is good if identified early and managed appropriately.