“Aberration” describes transient bundle branch block (BBB) and does not include persistent QRS abnormalities caused by persistent BBB, preexcitation, or the effect of drugs.
Acceleration-dependent BBB (aka “phase 3 block” or “voltage-dependent block”) occurs when an impulse arrives at tissues that are still refractory due to incomplete repolarization (during phase 3 of the action potential [AP]).
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Aberration secondary to phase 3 block tends to be in the form of RBBB when premature excitation (and Ashman phenomenon) occurs during normal baseline heart rates and in the form of LBBB when it occurs during fast heart rates.
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Phase 3 block constitutes the physiological explanation of several phenomena: (1) aberration caused by premature excitation. (2) Ashman phenomenon. (3) acceleration-dependent aberration.
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Pathologic vs physiologic phase 3 block
Acceleration-dependent aberration is a marker of a diseased HPS when it: (1) occurs at relatively slow heart rates (<70 bpm). (2) displays LBBB. (3) appears with gradual acceleration of the heart rate.
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Pause-dependent block (aka “phase 4 block” or “bradycardia-dependent block”) occurs when conduction of an impulse is blocked in tissues well after their normal refractory periods have ended.
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“Pause-dependent” or “bradycardia-dependent” block is caused by “phase 4 block.” Long intervals between activations allow for spontaneous depolarization and inactivation of Na+ channels & impaired conduction. Other proposed mechanisms include "source-to-sink mismatch".
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Phase 4 block often follows a delay caused by a compensatory pause after a PAC or PVC, spontaneous slowing of the sinus rate, or overdrive suppression of sinus rhythm upon termination of a fast supraventricular rhythm.
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Concealed transseptal conduction underlies aberration in several situations: 1) Perpetuation of aberrant conduction during tachyarrhythmias. 2) Unexpected persistence of acceleration-dependent aberration. 3) Alternation of aberration during atrial bigeminal rhythm.
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Impedance and RF ablation:
Part 2: How does RF ablation affect impedance?
1/9 As tissue temperature rises during RF energy application, ions within the tissue being heated become more mobile, resulting in a decrease in impedance to current flow.
2/9 There are currently 2 methods to measure impedance: Generator Impedance (GI) & Local Impedance (LI).
3/9 Lack of impedance drop during RF energy application can reflect inefficient energy delivery to the tissue due to poor tissue contact, lack of catheter stability, or inadequate power delivery.
Impedance & RF ablation:
Part 1: How does impedance affect RF lesion formation?
1/8 During RF ablation, system impedance = impedance of genera¬tor + transmission lines + catheter + electrode-tissue interface + skin patch interface + interposed tissues.
2/8 IMPEDANCE & POWER
The magnitude of RF current delivered by the generator is determined by impedance btwn ABL electrode and ground pad. Ablation at lower impedance yields higher current output (and tissue heating) compared with ablation at a similar power & higher impedance.
3/8 IMPEDANCE OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS
Currently used electrical conductors from the generator to the patient and from the ground pad back to the generator are designed to have low electrical resistance to help minimize power loss within those conductors.
1/8 ECG patterns that mimic 2°AVB are often related to atrial ectopy, concealed junctional ectopy, or AVN echo beats. Distinguishing physiologic from pathologic AVB is important.
2/8 In 2°AVB, sinus P-P interval is fairly constant (except for some variation caused by ventriculophasic arrhythmia), the nonconducted P wave occurs on time as expected, and P wave morphology is constant. With ectopy, P waves occur prematurely & often have different morphology.
3/8 Early PACs can arrive at the AVN during the refractory period and conduct with long PRI or block (physiologic rather than pathologic block) and can mimic Mobitz I or Mobitz II 2°AVB.
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What Is the Gap Phenomenon? 1/4 “PROXIMAL DELAY ALLOWS DISTAL RECOVERY” is the fundamental concept of gap phenomenon. This requires a distal site with a long effective refractory period (ERP) and a proximal site with a shorter ERP.
2/4 During gap phenomenon, initial block occurs distally (due to longer ERP). Earlier impulses encroach on the relative refractory period (RRP) of proximal site where conduction delay is encountered, which allows for expiration of the ERP of the distal site, enabling conduction.
3/4 Any pair of structures in the AV conduction system that has the appropriate EP physiological relationship can exhibit the gap phenomenon (e.g., atrium–AVN, proximal AVN–distal AVN, AVN–HPS, HB-distal HPS). Gap can occur in the anterograde or retrograde direction.
1/7 Concealed conduction can be defined as "the propagation of an impulse within the conduction system that can be recognized only from its effect on the subsequent impulse, interval, or cycle."
2/7 Impulse propagation in the conduction system generates too small electrical current to be recorded on ECG. If this impulse travels only a limited distance (incomplete penetration) in the conduction system, it can interfere with formation or propagation of another impulse.
3/7 Irregular Ventricular Response During AF:
AVN is expected to conduct at regular intervals when its RP expires after each conducted AF impulse. Irregular response is caused by incomplete penetration of some AF impulses into AVN, variably resetting its refractoriness.
1/9 How reliable is ablation electrode temperature to monitor RF lesion formation?
RF lesion creation is thermally mediated; hence, monitoring tissue temp is the most reliable approach to achieve effective (temp >50°C) & safe (temp <100°C) ablation.
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2/9 Temp measurements relevant to RF lesion formation include:
Directly measuring intramyocardial temp is the optimal method to monitor RF abl, but such technologies are currently not available for clinical use. Investigational technologies: microwave radiometery, US thermal strain imaging, and MR thermometry.