AV sequential and atrial pacing are frequently employed during cardiac surgery as various degrees of heart block are often encountered perioperatively. Prolongation of the PR interval is seen in first-degree heart block here associated with the prolonged QRS complexes often seen during bundle branch blocks. In second-degree heart block the PR interval gradually lengthens until the impulse is no longer conducted to the ventricles. In third-degree block there is no association between atrial and ventricular beats. The atrial and the ventricular contraction are not coordinated. Source: Chapter 3. Perioperative Rhythm Abnormalities, Cardiac Anesthesia and Transesophageal Echocardiography Citation: Wasnick JD, Hillel Z, Kramer D, Littwin S, Nicoara A. Cardiac Anesthesia and Transesophageal Echocardiography; 2011 Available at: http://accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/DownloadImage.aspx?image=/data/books/wasn/wasn_c003f001b.gif&sec=43896553&BookID=418&ChapterSecID=43896238&imagename= Accessed: November 01, 2017 Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved