Editorial: Bradycardia-dependent conduction disorders

Tachycardia-dependent and bradycardia-dependent intraventricular conduction defects in acute myocardial infarction: electrocardiographic, electrophysiologic, and clinical correlates

Presence of rate-dependent (RD) intraventricular conduction defects (IVCD) was documented by inducing variations in heart rate in 30 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients (10 right bundle branch block, six left bundle branch block, 13 left anterior hemiblocks, and two left posterior hemiblocks). Five IVCDs were tachycardia-dependent (TD), 20 were bradycardia-dependent (BD), and six were both TD and BD. In TD blocks shortest cycles showing normal intraventricular conduction ranged from 410 to 1330 msec (697 +/- 84 SE); in BD blocks longest cycles with normal intraventricular conduction ranged from 450 to 1450 msec (962 +/- 52). In 60% of cases intermittent incomplete RD blocks were also present. In one patients RD-IVCD intermittency remained until discharge; in the others it lasted from 4 minutes to 10 days. Afterwards 19 RD-IVCDs disappeared and four became stable; six patients died during RD-IVCD intermittency period. Disappearance of RD block was preceded by gradual reduction in cycle length showing TD block and lengthening of cycles stopped beats with BD block. Serial observation of RD-IVCDs provides information about sequence of electrophysiologic effects on the intraventricular conduction system in clinical AMI.

Effects of isoproterenol on bradycardia-dependent intra-His and left bundle branch blocks

The electrophysiologic study of a patient with a history of fainting showed first- and second-degree Mobitz type I intraatrial and intra-His (IH) bundle blocks. Tachycardia and bradycardia-dependent IH block and bradycardia-dependent left bundle branch block were also present. Bradycardia-dependent block was probably caused by slight hypopolarization plus a slow rising slope of phase 4 depolarization and a shift of the threshold potential toward zero. Two months later a second electrophysiologic study was performed before, during and after administration of i.v. isoproterenol (IP). Shortening of atrium-His (AH1) and IH (H1H2) conduction time during faster heart rates caused by IP infusion may be related to its hyperpolarizing effect. Simultaneously, a shifting to the left of both bradycardia-dependent IH and left bundle branch block ranges was recorded during vagally induced cardiac slowing. These findings suggest that IP produces an increase in the slope of phase 4 depolarization of the His bundle and left bundle branch fibers and a simultaneous and concordant effect at both levels of the intraventricular conduction system.

Case reports of phase 4 paroxysmal atrioventricular block

Four cases of PAVB were reported, 3 of which manifested third-degree AV block, while one exhibited first-degree AV block, while one exhibited first-degree AV block. The location and mechanism of establishment and disappearance of PAVB was discussed. It was speculated that, in some cases, concealed conduction of P waves could promote depolarization of the injured area which displayed Phase 4 block and thus temporarily restore 1.1 AV conduction.

Transient tachycardia- and bradycardia-dependent left anterior and left posterior hemiblocks. Effects of isoproterenol

Tachycardia- and bradycardia-dependent, left anterior and left posterior hemiblocks as transient phenomena were registered in two patients spontaneously, and especially as a consequence of isoproterenol infusion. A chronic trifascicular type of A-V block was present in the first case, whereas in the second case a bradycardia-dependent left posterior hemiblock was registered during an acute myocardial infarction. In the first patient the isoproterenol effects were: (1) a shortening of the refractoriness and an increase of the conduction velocity in the injured fascicle, (2) an increase in the slope of phase-4 depolarization on the left posterior fascicle, and (3) a presumably shifting toward zero of threshold potential on the left anterior fascicle. Isoproterenol effects disappeared from 30 to 40 min after it was discontinued. In the second case the bradycardia-dependent left posterior hemiblock was registered during very fast heart rates (150 beats min). This finding supports the view that enhanced phase-4 depolarization is the main factor in the development of bradycardia-dependent intraventricular blocks in the course of acute myocardial ischemia.

A case of coexisting tachycardia- and bradycardia-dependent bilateral bundle branch block

Electrocardiograms and His bundle electrograms were presented from a patient with a rare combination of intermittent bilateral bundle branch block. Critical analyses of R-R intervals and evolution of bundle branch block patterns revealed both tachycardia dependent right bundle branch block and bradycardia dependent left bundle branch block. Evaluation of HV intervals on His bundle electrograms suggested an additional possibility of bradycardia dependent conduction delay in the right bundle branch system.

Direct Wenckebach periods in the left bundle branch during bradycardia-dependent left bundle branch block in a patient with sick sinus syndrome

Direct Wenckebach periods in the left bundle branch with periods of 4:3 and 5:4 conduction alternating with 2:1 left bundle branch block (LBBB) were observed in a patient who was admitted because of congestive heart failure. There was no previous documented LBBB and serial electrocardiographic (ECG) mainfestations afterwards were indicative of sick sinus syndrome. This is probably the first report to describe direct Wenckebach periods in the left bundle branch during bradycardia-dependent (phase-4) LBBB in a patient with sick sinus syndrome.

The prominent electrocardiographic conduction aspects of hypokalemia in a patient with periodic paralysis

This article documents striking atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction disturbances in marked hypokalemia, in a Negro male with periodic paralysis. The authors discuss cardiac conduction in hypokalemia.