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Cardiac Arrhythmias I : Atrioventricular Conduction Disturbances and Bradyarrhythmias. Michael H. Lehmann, M.D. Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine Director, Electrocardiography Laboratory. Overview of Cardiac Arrhythmias. Why Are Arrhythmias Important?.
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Cardiac Arrhythmias I: Atrioventricular Conduction Disturbances and Bradyarrhythmias Michael H. Lehmann, M.D. Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine Director, Electrocardiography Laboratory
Why Are Arrhythmias Important? • Symptoms span palpitations, lightheadedness, syncope (fainting) and cardiac arrest • May be the first manifestation of heart disease • May precipitate or exacerbate heart failure or ischemia • Some arrhythmias can predispose to intracardiac clot formation and embolic events (stroke, myocardial infarction, peripheral emboli)
EKG Assessment of Arrhythmias • Is the rate slow (< 60 beats/min [> 5 big boxes])? • Is the rate fast (>100 beats/min [< 3 big boxes])? • What drives the P waves? • What drives the QRS complexes? • What is the relationship between P’s and QRS’s?
Sites of Disturbances in Impulse Formation or Conduction Leading to Bradyarrhythmias SA Node AV Node His-Purkinje System
Components of Atrioventricular (AV) Conduction AV Node His- Purkinje System
Intraventricular (His-Purkinje) Conduction System (AV node) His bundle Left bundle branch Right bundle branch Septal fascicle Left anterior fascicle Left posterior fascicle
Rule for QRS Width: Any electrophysiologic process that engenders a departure from synchronous activation of the ventricles tends to widen the QRS
QRS Width: Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Ventricular Activation QRS Normal synchronous overlapping activation of both ventricles: Narrow On time Late Asynchronous scenario I: Wide On time (or late) Head start Wide Asynchronous scenario II:
Generation of Narrow QRS Complex ( .10 sec [2.5 little boxes]) Horizontal plane with precordial leads: LV RV Intact Purkinje system assures synchronous, overlapping activation of right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV)
Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB) Late right ventricular activation, with slow muscle-to-muscle conduction RV is activated via the left bundle
QRS Distortion Induced by RBBB rSR’ pattern Broad S wave Initial QRS inscription is normal due to normal LV activation Note terminal rightward delay with QRS widening ( .12 sec [3 little boxes], with “complete” RBBB)
Complete RBBB Pattern V1 V6 Broad S wave (Lead I similar) rsR’ complex Note T wave pointing in direction opposite to late rightward component (2 repolarization effect)
Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB) Delayed left ventricular activation, with slow muscle-to-muscle conduction LV is activated via the right bundle
QRS Distortion Induced by LBBB Broad monophasic R wave Entire QRS dominated by marked leftward delay and is wide ( .12 sec [3 little boxes], with “complete” LBBB) Broad S wave
Complete LBBB Pattern V1 V6 Broad R wave (Lead I similar) Broad S wave Note absence of “septal-q” in V6; andT wave pointing in direction opposite to QRS (2 repolarization effect)
Mean QRS Axis Quadrants in the Frontal Plane () Lead I () (+) Lead AVF (+)
Frontal Plane Mean QRS Axis Designations r S in Lead II for Left Axis Deviation I AVF
Left Anterior Fascicular (“/Hemi-”) Block (LAFB) LV is activated via the left posterior fascicle 1) Initial QRS forces directed inferiorly to the right Left Axis Deviation (to -45 or beyond) 2) Bulk of QRS forces directed superiorly to the left Lead I 3) Minimal or no QRS widening Lead AVF
Left Anterior Fascicular (“/Hemi-”) Block (LAFB) qR rS rS I III II Initial QRS forces directed rightward (negative in Lead I) and inferiorly (positive in Leads II and III Subsequent predominant forces directed leftward (positive in I) and superiorly (negative in II and III)
Left Posterior Fascicular (“/Hemi-”) Block (LPFB) LV is activated via the left anterior fascicle 1) Initial QRS forces directed superiorly to the left Right Axis Deviation (beyond +90) 2) Bulk of QRS forces directed inferiorly to the right Lead I 3) Minimal or no QRS widening Lead AVF
Left Posterior Fascicular (“/Hemi-”) Block (LPFB) rS qR qR II III I Initial QRS forces directed leftward (positive in Lead I) and superiorly (negative in Leads II and III Subsequent predominant forces directed rightward (negative in I) and inferiorly (positive in II and III)
Bifascicular Block (RBBB + LAFB) Site of RBBB Site of LAFB LV is activated via the left posterior fascicle RV is activated from the left
Bifascicular Block (RBBB + LAFB) Note RBBB pattern plus left axis deviation of “unblocked” portion of QRS (initial .06 sec =1.5 little boxes)
Bifascicular Block (RBBB + LPFB) Site of RBBB LV is activated via the left anterior fascicle Site of LPFB RV is activated from the left
Bifascicular Block (RBBB + LPFB) Note RBBB pattern plus right axis deviation of “unblocked” portion of QRS (initial .06 sec =1.5 little boxes)
Non-Specific Intraventricular Conduction Block QRS .12 sec without a typical BBB pattern Leads I & V1 inconsistent with RBBB; septal q in I inconsistent with LBBB
Causes of Intraventricular Conduction Disturbances • Ischemic heart disease or cardiomyopathic scarring • Degenerative changes in the conduction system • Antiarrhythmic drugs that depress the inward sodium current • Hyperkalemia (K) • Myocardial infection, infiltration (e.g., tumor) • Trauma (e.g., cardiac surgery) • Congenital abnormality
Components of AV Conduction AV Node His- Purkinje System
AV Block - Definitions • First Degree: Prolonged conduction time • Second Degree: Intermittent non-conduction • Third Degree: Persistent non-conduction
First Degree AV Block (PR > .20 sec [1 big box]) II P P P .36 Site of delay most commonly the AV node, but may be localized to the His-Purkinje system
Second Degree AV Block - Type I (Wenkebach or Mobitz I Block) II P P P P Block • Example of 3:2 conduction ratio; general pattern, n:n-1 • Note PR prior to block and post-block • Characteristic of AV nodal site of block
Second Degree AV Block - Type I (Wenkebach or Mobitz I Block) II P P P P P Block • 4:3 conduction ratio • Note first RR longer than second RR
Schema of a “Typical” 4:3 AV Wenckebach Sequence • Second RR (VV) shortens due to diminution in the increment of AV prolongation • Pause encompassing blocked beat < 2 x PP
Second Degree AV Block - Type I V1 • 7:6 Conduction Ratio • Note “atypical” PR & RR features
Second Degree AV Block - Type I (Repetitive Cycles) II 4:3 4:3 “Group beating” (“Regularly irregular” rhythm)
Second Degree AV Block - Type II (Mobitz II) II P P P P P P Block Block • Example of 3:2 conduction ratio; general pattern, n:n-1 • Note fixed PR for all conducted beats • Characteristic of His-Purkinje system site of block
Second Degree AV Block - Type II P P P P P Block 4:3 conduction ratio
2:1 Second Degree AV Block - Type I or Type II? II P P P P P P Is site of block within theAV nodeorHis-Purkinje System?
QRS narrow Improves with exercise (catecholamine-facilitated conduction) Observed in setting of increased vagal tone (e.g., sleep) or AV nodal depressant drugs QRS wide (BBB patterns) Unchanged (possibly even precipitated) during exercise May improve with heart rate slowing during increased vagal tone EKG/Clinical Clues to site of2:1 Second Degree AV block Favoring AV Node Favoring His-Purkinje System Rules-of-Thumb only
Advanced Second Degree AV Block (Block of 2 Consecutive P Waves) II P P P P P P P P P 3:1 conduction ratio, with ventricular rate in the 30’s
Pacemaker Hierarchy (Dominant vs Subsidiary/Escape Pacemakers) Intrinsic Rate of Firing SA Node (+Atria) 60-100 min1 40-60 min1 AV Junction (=AVN/His Bundle) Ventricles (= Distal Purkinje System) 30-40 min1
Site of AV Block vs. Escape Rhythm • AV Node: Junctional or ventricular • His-Purkinje System: Ventricular
Junctional and ventricular (= “idioventricular”) escape beats or rhythms • Are suppressed (inhibited) as long as their intrinsic rates are overdiven by a faster pacemaker tissue or rhythm process capturing the heart • Become manifest (“escape” from suppression) in the absence of faster competing rhythms • But, firing of these pacemakers at rates faster than their upper-limit escape rates is abnormal (i.,e., “accelerated rhythm” or relative “tachycardia” )