Characterization of the distal insertion of atriofascicular accessory pathways and mechanisms of QRS patterns in atriofascicular antidromic tachycardia
Abstract
Background The distal insertion of right atriofascicular pathways remains a source of debate. Moreover, there are various morphologies of preexcited QRS complexes involving atriofascicular pathways that have been poorly characterized.Objective To characterize the distal insertion of atriofascicular accessory pathways and to provide a mechanism for the change in QRS morphology observed between short and long ventriculo-His (V-H) antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardias (AVRTs) in the same patient.Methods Thirteen patients with atriofascicular pathways and preexcited AVRT with short V-H and long V-H intervals were studied. For each patient, the tachycardia cycle length, V-H interval, QRS width, and axis were compared. A baseline His-ventricular interval was also recorded.Results The baseline His-ventricular interval was significantly longer than the V-H interval during antidromic AVRT (median 50 ms vs. 10 ms; P < .0001). Retrograde right bundle branch block increased the V-H interval (median 10 ms vs. 85 ms; P < .0001), the tachycardia cycle length (median of 302.5 ms vs. 350 ms; P < .0001), and the QRS width (median 120 ms vs. 140 ms; P < .0002). At least subtle changes in QRS morphology, axis, or QRS width were seen in all patients.Conclusions The distal insertion of right atriofascicular pathways fuses with the right bundle branch. The various QRS morphologies seen during the change from short V-H to long V-H antidromic AVRT can be explained by fusion, particularly over the left anterior fascicle.
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Mahaim fibers are nodoventricular or atriofascicular decrementally conducting connections between the right atrium or AV node and the right ventricle in or close to the right bundle branch.
“Mahaim fibers are nodoventricular (as initially described) or atriofascicular (more often) decrementally conducting connections between the right atrium or the AV node and the right ventricle in or close to the right bundle branch.329 -332”
From European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) consensus document on the management of supraventricular arrhythmias, endorsed by Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), and Sociedad Latinoamericana de Estimulacion Cardiaca y Electrofisiologia (SOLAECE) (2017) · cites this paper as [330]
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- Authors
- Gandhavadi, M., Sternick, E. B., Jackman, W. M., Wellens, H. J. J., & Josephson, M. E.
- Affiliations
- Biocor Institute (BR)
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (US)
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Josephson, Mark E.
- Venue
- Heart Rhythm
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-09
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1385-1392
- ISSN
- 1547-5271 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1967761857
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 1.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Heart Rhythm (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Arrhythmias and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac pacing and defibrillation studies
- Keywords
- antidromic tachycardia, QRS morphology, right bundle branch block, His-ventricular interval, tachycardia cycle length
- MeSH terms
- Bundle-Branch Block, Heart Conduction System, Humans, Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry, Catheter Ablation, Accessory Atrioventricular Bundle
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