Mahaim fiber: An atriofascicular or a long atrioventricular pathway?

Abstract

There is debate concerning the distal insertion of Mahaim fibers. Some findings favor an atriofascicular fiber connected with the distal right bundle branch. Other findings favor a long atrioventricular (AV) structure inserting into the myocardium. A patient having a decrementally conducting accessory pathway is reported. Proximal and distal Mahaim potentials were recorded during sinus rhythm, atrial pacing, and antidromic tachycardia. Both proximal and distal M potentials always preceded the QRS complex during sinus rhythm and antidromic tachycardia earlier than the right bundle branch potential. During tachycardia, the distal M potential was recorded 6 ms before the retrograde right bundle potential. Other arguments consistent with an AV connection were a change in the QRS configuration during tachycardia after the first radiofrequency pulse at the site of the distal M potential and absence of right bundle branch block after successful ablation. Conduction through the proximal part of the Mahaim fiber was unaltered after ablation, as assessed by recording the proximal M potential. Electrophysiologic evidence is presented suggesting a long AV accessory pathway inserting close to the distal right bundle branch rather than an atriofascicular connection in this patient with a Mahaim fiber.