Change In Ventricular Cycle Length Research Articles

The Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Minimalist

The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was devised to satisfy the unmet need for an effective, instantaneous therapy to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) in at-risk, ambulatory patients. That therapy was a high-voltage electric shock delivered directly into the heart muscle. More than 3 decades later, shocks are still the defining operating characteristic of ICDs, and no other instantaneously effective therapy for VF exists. This elite status was clinched by large randomized clinical trials1,2 which demonstrated that ICDs improved mortality in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, regardless of pathogenesis or accompanying symptoms of heart failure (HF), by primary prevention of SCD due to ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA). Like bradycardia pacemakers for asystole, the ICD resides as a therapy genre of one, with no peer, and no competitor on the horizon. These sibling therapies for lethal heart rhythm disturbances will stand prominently among the greatest medical achievements of the 20th century. The ICD is a mature technology, and neither the technique nor the tools have changed much for several decades. Despite a certain evolutionary elegance of the operating system, the ICD is still a blunt instrument. Although it is true that some innovation has occurred, it is still a matter of a shock delivered by insulated metal conductors residing somewhere in direct proximity to the heart. No innovation beyond the fundamental of a timed shock for VF has proven to enhance mortality benefit. The basic design persists simply because no one can think of a suitable alternative and the self-satisfying aphorism that “shocks save lives.” Yet there is a growing intellectual dissatisfaction with the unintended consequences of this powerful, irreplaceable therapy. The stimulus for this self-inspection is an awareness of the very high morbidity risk overhead borne by the primary prevention patient, in particular, …

Utility of tachycardia cycle length variability in discriminating atrial tachycardia from ventricular tachycardia

Inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy of atrial tachycardia (AT) with 1:1 atrioventricular (AV) conduction is common because it is difficult to discriminate from ventricular tachycardia (VT) with 1:1 retrograde conduction. Tachycardia cycle length (CL) variability and the relationship between atrial and ventricular CLs may be useful in discriminating AT from VT with 1:1 retrograde conduction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the relationship between the atrial and ventricular CLs in differentiating AT with 1:1 conduction from VT with 1:1 retrograde conduction. We studied 71 patients who had a tachycardia with a 1:1 AV relationship and significant CL variability. Thirty-nine patients had AT (21 inducible and 18 simulated), and 32 patients had VT (11 inducible and 21 simulated). The relationship between atrial and ventricular CLs was examined. A change in atrial CL predicted the change in subsequent ventricular CL in 37 (95%) of 39 patients with AT and in none of the patients with VT. A change in preceding ventricular CL predicted the change in atrial CL in 31 (97%) of 32 patients with VT and in only one (3%) of 39 patients with AT. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of a change in atrial CL predicting the change in ventricular CL for AT with significant CL variability were 95%, 100%, 100%, and 94%, respectively. The corresponding values for the change in preceding ventricular CL predicting the change in atrial CL for AT with significant CL variability were 97%. The relationship between atrial and ventricular CL is useful in differentiating AT from VT with retrograde conduction. A change in atrial CL that predicts the change in subsequent ventricular CL rules in AT and excludes VT.

Utility of Atrial and Ventricular Cycle Length Variability in Determining the Mechanism of Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia

No prior studies have systematically investigated the diagnostic value of cycle length (CL) variability in differentiating the mechanism of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). We studied 173 consecutive patients with PSVT; 86 typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), 11 atypical AVNRT, 47 orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia (ORT), and 29 with atrial tachycardia (AT). Two consecutive atrial cycles that displayed the most CL variability were selected for analysis. One hundred and twenty-six patients (73%) had > or = 15 msec variability in tachycardia CL. The change in atrial CL predicted the change in subsequent ventricular CL in six of eight patients (75%) with atypical AVNRT, 18 of 21 patients (86%) with AT, in none of 66 patients with typical AVNRT, and in 32 patients with ORT. The change in atrial CL was predicted by the change in preceding ventricular CL in 55 of 66 patients (83%) with typical AVNRT, no patient with atypical AVNRT, 27 of 31 patients (87%) with ORT, and one of 21 patients (5%) with AT. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of a change in atrial CL predicting the change in ventricular CL for AT or atypical AVNRT were 83%, 100%, 100%, and 95%, respectively. The corresponding values for the change in atrial CL being predicted by the change in the preceding ventricular CL for typical AVNRT or ORT were 85%, 97%, 99%, and 65%, respectively. Tachycardia CL variability > or = 15 msec is common in PSVT. A change in atrial CL that predicts the change in subsequent ventricular CL strongly favors AT or atypical AVNRT. A change in atrial CL that is predicted by the change in the preceding ventricular CL favors typical AVNRT or ORT.

FBI (Fast Broad Irregular)

HomeCirculationVol. 114, No. 24FBI (Fast Broad Irregular) Free AccessReview ArticlePDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toFree AccessReview ArticlePDF/EPUBFBI (Fast Broad Irregular)A Case for the Secret Service? Sergio Richter, MD and Pedro Brugada, MD, PhD Sergio RichterSergio Richter From the Heart Rhythm Management Institute, Department of Cardiology, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. Search for more papers by this author and Pedro BrugadaPedro Brugada From the Heart Rhythm Management Institute, Department of Cardiology, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. Search for more papers by this author Originally published12 Dec 2006https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.641746Circulation. 2006;114:e638–e639A 34-year-old man without a medical history of cardiac disease presented to our emergency room with fast and irregular palpitations. An instantaneously recorded surface ECG revealed the diagnosis (Figure). The tracing showed an irregular, wide QRS-complex tachycardia with right bundle-branch block, right superior axis deviation, and short RR intervals varying from 160 to 340 ms. The widths of the right bundle-branch block–shaped QRS complexes varied in response to changes in ventricular cycle length. A narrow QRS complex with normal axis was observed (Figure, asterisk), indicating a normally conducted capture beat. Download figureDownload PowerPointTwelve-lead ECG during fast, broad, and irregular (FBI) tachycardia. Preexcited atrial fibrillation with rapid anterograde conduction over a left posterolateral bypass tract is present. Note the normal, narrow QRS complex (asterisk) among the irregularly irregular preexcited ventricular complexes and the varying degrees of preexcitation depending on variation in ventricular cycle length (the concertina phenomenon). The shortest RR interval is 160 ms.This grossly irregular, rapid right bundle-branch block tachycardia represented preexcited atrial fibrillation (AF) with anterograde conduction over a left posterolateral accessory pathway, leading to irregularly irregular preexcited ventricular complexes with varying degrees of preexcitation. The shortest RR interval during preexcited AF was 160 ms, indicating a short anterograde refractory period of the accessory pathway and an increased risk for the development of ventricular fibrillation and sudden death.The differential diagnosis of preexcited AF includes ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation with aberrancy. The presence of an apparent fusion and capture beat could lead one to the diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia, because these findings are considered diagnostic for ventricular tachycardia. Morphologically speaking, the tachycardia is ventricular in origin. Nevertheless, the marked cycle-length variation of more than 100% strongly argues against ventricular tachycardia and instead favors preexcited AF as the underlying arrhythmia mechanism. The right superior axis deviation and the fact that longer RR intervals lead to more fully preexcited QRS complexes compared with shorter RR cycles (the concertina phenomenon) virtually exclude AF with solely aberrant conduction.Preexcited atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response reveals a typical electrocardiographic pattern that is often diagnostic at first glance. Because of its characteristic ECG features (fast, broad, and irregular), this tachyarrhythmia has been named FBI tachycardia. This potentially life-threatening clinical condition is obviously a case for the emergency rather than the secret service.DisclosuresNone.FootnotesCorrespondence to Sergio Richter, MD, Heart Rhythm Management Institute, Department of Cardiology, Free University of Brussels, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. E-mail [email protected] Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited By Littmann L, Olson E and Gibbs M (2019) Initial evaluation and management of wide-complex tachycardia: A simplified and practical approach, The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.04.027, Online publication date: 1-Apr-2019. December 12, 2006Vol 114, Issue 24 Advertisement Article InformationMetrics https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.641746PMID: 17159067 Originally publishedDecember 12, 2006 PDF download Advertisement SubjectsArrhythmiasElectrophysiology

A Single Atrial Extrastimulus Can Distinguish Sinus Tachycardia from 1:1 Paroxysmal Tachycardia

We have developed a tachycardia detection scheme for use in an antitachycardia pacemaker in which the use of a properly timed atrial extrastimulus provides a means of discriminating sinus tachycardia from pace-terminable 1:1 tachycardias. An atrial extrastimulus is delivered in late diastole (80 ms premature), and the ventricular response is monitored. In sinus tachycardia, the ventricular response is expected to appear early as well, but in pace-terminable tachycardias, such as AV reentrant and ventricular with VA conduction, the ventricular rhythm will be unperturbed. Testing of the algorithm was performed in 34 patients. In 29 patients, atrial extrastimuli were delivered during sinus tachycardia, and in 22 patients during various types of 1:1 paroxysmal tachycardia. In one patient the procedure was completely automated, i.e., delivery of the atrial extrastimuli and diagnosis were microcomputer controlled. In 28/29 cases, the delivery of an atrial extrastimulus 80 to 120 ms early during sinus tachycardia elicited a ventricular response at least 28 ms early. In 22/22 patients with 1:1 paroxysmal tachycardia, atrial extrastimuli 80 to 120 ms early failed to produce a significant change in ventricular cycle length. This technique appears to be promising for prevention of inadvertent pacing of sinus tachycardia in an antitachycardia pacemaker.

Facilitation of ventricular tachycardia induction with abrupt changes in ventricular cycle length

The effect of abrupt short-to-long changes in cycle length (CL) on the postulated reentrant circuit of ventricular tachycardia (VT) was evaluated. This was performed using single and double ventricular extrastimuli in a group of 21 patients clinically suspected of having VT in whom VT could not be induced at comparable or shorter constant CLs. A second group of 10 patients without suspected VT was similarly studied. Compared with constant CLs of equal or shorter duration preceding the single or double ventricular extrastimuli, abrupt short-to-long CL changes resulted in (1) initiation of sustained VT in 13 of 21 patients in whom VT could not be induced at constant CLs despite the use of shorter S 1S 3 by 66 ± 17 ms; (2) increased incidence of initiation of sustained VT after the V 3 phenomenon resulting from macroreentry within the His-Purkinje system (ReHPS); (3) a small but higher incidence of sustained VT due to sustained Re-HPS; and (4) no induction of sustained or nonsustained VT with either method in the second group of patients. These results provide additional support for reentry as the basis for sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Abrupt short-to-long CL changes may be effective for initiating sustained VT in patients at risk for these arrhythmias.

Facilitation of macroreentry within the His-Purkinje system with abrupt changes in cycle length.

We have recently described the ability of abrupt short-to-long changes in atrial cycle length (CL) to prolong refractoriness of the His-Purkinje system (HPS) and increase the likelihood of aberrant ventricular conduction. We have also shown similar functional behavior in retrograde refractoriness of the HPS during changes in ventricular CL. To further assess these characteristics we evaluated the effect of abrupt short-to-long change in ventricular CL on the phenomenon of macroreentry within the HPS (Re-HPS) in 20 patients in whom Re-HPS occurred during application of a ventricular extrastimulus (V2) at a constant ventricular CL (method I) and/or with abrupt short-to-long change in CL (method II). For both methods V2 was coupled to a CL of identical duration, designated the reference CL (CLR). In method I the CLs preceding (CLP) the CLR equaled CLR, whereas in method II CLP was less than CLR. The results showed a dramatic increase in occurrence of Re-HPS with abrupt short-to-long change in CL with Re-HPS occurring in 19 patients with this method compared with in 11 patients during constant CL. In 10 patients manifesting Re-HPS with both methods the associated retrograde conduction (V2H2) delays were equal or less during abrupt short-to-long changes in CL and, remarkably, there were concomitantly shorter antegrade conduction (H2V3) delays compared with at a constant CL. Moreover, despite the resulting shorter V2V3, additional Re-HPS beats were also more likely to occur with abrupt short-to-long change in CL compared with at a constant CL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Divergence between refractoriness of His-Purkinje system and ventricular muscle with abrupt changes in cycle length.

The concept that refractoriness of the His-Purkinje system (HPS) and ventricular muscle both vary directly with cycle length is based on observations during the use of constant cycle length. During abrupt changes in ventricular cycle length, refractoriness of the ventricular muscle is known to reflect the cumulative durations of preceding cycle lengths. The effect of such changes on retrograde refractoriness of the HPS is not known. In this study refractoriness of ventricular muscle and of the HPS was evaluated in 30 patients with normal intraventricular conduction by the ventricular extrastimulus (V2) technique during constant cycle length (method I) and during abrupt cycle length changes (method II). During method II the cycle length immediately before V2 was identical to the constant cycle length of method I and therefore was designated as the reference cycle length (CLR); however, the cycle length preceding (CLP) CLR was either longer than CLR (method IIA) by 100 to 300 msec in 11 patients or shorter than CLR (method IIB) by 100 to 300 msec in 30 patients. Results showed that compared with method I, method IIA shortened the relative refractory period (RRP) of the HPS from 350 +/- 29 to 344 +/- 29 msec (p less than .04), whereas the effective refractory period (ERP) of the ventricular muscle increased from 225 +/- 21 to 233 +/- 20 msec (p less than .0001). In contrast, compared with method I, method IIB lengthened the RRP of the HPS from 335 +/- 30 to 351 +/- 35 msec (p less than .0001), whereas ERP of the ventricular muscle decreased from 223 +/- 23 to 213 +/- 22 msec (p less than .0001). Similar to the inverse relationship between CLP and RRP of the HPS, ERP of the HPS was prolonged with short CLP (method IIB) compared with long CLP (method IIA). The results indicate a marked divergence between refractoriness of the HPS and of ventricular muscle during abrupt cycle length changes; these results were not previously anticipated. Whereas ventricular muscle responded to cumulative effects of preceding cycle lengths and varied directly with CLP, the HPS appeared to respond to directional and/or dynamic changes in cycle length and varied inversely with CLP. Moreover, in contrast to ventricular muscle, the HPS appeared to be responsive to rate of change in cycle length whereby short-to-long change in cycle length had a greater effect than long-to-short change in cycle length.

Functional 2:1 A-V Block within the His-Purkinje System

In eight subjects in whom the effective refractory period of the His-Purkinje system was determined to be longer than that of the A-V node or atrium, abrupt acceleration of the atrial rate resulted in either 2:1 block within the His-Purkinje system or 1:1 A-V conduction. The former conduction pattern simulated a type II second-degree A-V block. The occurrence of either 2:1 block within the His-Purkinje system or 1:1 A-V conduction was determined primarily by (1) an effective refractory period of the His-Purkinje system which exceeded that of the A-V node, (2) the coupling interval of the first atrial capture beat and its effect or lack thereof on the refractory period of His-Purkinje system as it relates to changes in ventricular cycle length, and (3) the relative speed of A-V nodal conduction time. The distinction between this functional 2:1 block within the His-Purkinje system and a true type II second-degree block is discussed from both the clinical and electrophysiologic points of view. Functional 2:1 block within the His-Purkinje can also result when sudden acceleration of atrial rate occurs spontaneously such as in atrial flutter or A-V nodal reentrant atrial tachycardias.