Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Atrial conduction”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 739 records · Page 41Linked to original sources

The action of acetylcholine on background conductance in frog atrial trabeculae.

The action of acetylcholine (ACh) on membrane potential and currents in frog atrial muscle has been studied with a double sucrose gap technique. The results show the following. 1. ACh induces the development of an extra current, outward at the resting potential, which is dependent on the ACh concentration. 2. The preparation does not show any sign of desensitization. 3. The reversal potential of the current induced by ACh is between 0 and 20 mV more negative than the resting potential and behaves as a K electrode. 4. The mechanism of ACh-induced K conductance presents inward going rectification properties. 5. The delayed outward current is not affected by ACh. However the evolution of its tail current seems to indicate a process of K accumulation related to the ACh-induced current.

Acetylcholine↗

Effects of acute atrial dilation on heterogeneity in conduction in the isolated rabbit heart.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial dilation plays an important role in the development and persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The mechanisms by which atrial dilation increases the vulnerability to AF are not fully understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 11 isolated rabbit hearts, the right atrium was acutely dilated by increasing the intra-atrial pressure from 2 to 9 and 14 cm H2O. A rectangular mapping array of 240 electrodes (spatial resolution 0.5 mm) was positioned on the free wall of the right atrium. The atrium was paced from four different sites at intervals of 240 and 125 msec. At normal atrial pressure (2 cm H2O), conduction was uniform in all directions with an anisotropy ratio between 1.5 and 1.7. Increasing the pressure to 9 cm H2O decreased the normalized conduction velocity during rapid pacing by 18%. The incidence of areas of slow conduction and conduction block increased from 6.6% and 1.6% to 10.2% and 3.3%. At 14 cm H2O, conduction velocity decreased by 31% and the percentage of slow conduction and block further increased to 11.5% and 6.6% (P < 0.001). The appearance of lines of intra-atrial block was largely dependent on the pacing site. Whereas during pacing at the cranial part of the crista terminalis no increase in conduction delays occurred, pacing from the low right atrium unmasked several lines of block oriented parallel to the major trabeculae and the crista terminalis. In an additional series of six hearts the left atrium also was mapped. The effect of dilation of the left atrium was comparable to that of the right atrium. Increasing the atrial pressure to 14 cm H2O increased the amount of intra-atrial conduction block threefold to fourfold. CONCLUSION: Acute atrial dilation results in slowing of conduction and an increase of the amount of intra-atrial conduction block. The increase in spatial heterogeneity in conduction was related to the anisotropic properties of the atrial wall.

Animals↗

Relationship between interatrial conduction times and left atrial dimension in patients undergoing atrioventricular stimulation.

Interatrial conduction time (IACT) and left atrial dimension (LAD) were determined in 75 patients (41 males, 34 females, mean age 78.2 +/- 7.9 years) undergoing atrioventricular (AV) stimulation. The LAD was measured by M mode echocardiography as the distance between the posterior aortic wall and the posterior left atrial wall. The IACT was determined during a transvenous dual chamber pacemaker implant done under local anesthesia (lidocaine). The spontaneous interatrial conduction time (SIACT) was measured from the intrinsic deflection (ID) of the right atrium recorded in a unipolar mode (unipolar J-shaped lead positioned in the right appendage) to the ID of the left atrium (bipolar esophageal lead, left atrial positive deflection equal to the negative one) during sinus rhythm. The right atrium then was paced at a rate slightly greater than the spontaneous one. The paced interatrial conduction time (PIACT) was measured from the stimulus artifact to the left atrial ID. The PIACT was also measured during incremental right atrial pacing (10 beats/min step increase to 180 beats/min) and, from these measurements, the maximum increase of PIACT (MIPIACT) was deduced. The LAD was measured at 39.5 +/- 8.7 mm, SIACT at 70.3 +/- 24.8 msec, PIACT at 118.8 +/- 27.9 msec, and MIPIACT at 16.5 +/- 16.4 msec. We found highly significant relationships between SIACT and LAD (P = 0.0006, r = 0.39), PIACT and LAD (P = 0.0001, r = 0.45), and MIPIACT and LAD (P = 0.0006, r = 0.38). We also noted that the LAD was greater in patients in whom MIPIACT was > 10 msec than in patients in whom the MIPIACT was negligible (P < 0.002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Temporal pattern of conduction recurrence during radiofrequency ablation for typical atrial flutter.

INTRODUCTION: Conduction recurrence during radiofrequency (RF) ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus for typical atrial flutter is common. Understanding the temporal pattern of recurrences could help to predict a durable bidirectional block (BDB) and optimize the procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed atrial flutter ablations in 108 consecutive patients (85 males, age 63 +/- 11 years). RF energy was delivered through 8-mm tip or 4-mm cooled-tip catheter. On average, 18 +/- 11 pulses were necessary to achieve BDB. The time to recurrence of conduction after RF cessation was recorded. Early and late conduction recurrences were defined as < or =10 minutes and >10 minutes, respectively. Patients were observed for > or =30 minutes after bidirectional cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) block was achieved. Conduction did not recur in 46 patients. In 8 cases, no block was achieved. A total of 167 conduction recurrences were recorded in the remaining 54 cases (1-10 per case). Of these, in 53 patients, recurrences were classified as early (98%) and 14 patients had late recurrences (8%). Thirteen patients had both early and late recurrences (24%). All but one late recurrence were preceded by at least one early recurrence. Absence of early recurrence had negative predictive value of 98%, while any early recurrence had positive predictive value of 26% for subsequent late conduction recovery. CONCLUSION: Incidence of isthmus conduction recurrence rapidly decayed during the waiting period. Absence of conduction recurrence within 10 minutes after first successful RF delivery was highly predictive of persistent BDB.

Atrial Flutter↗

Effects of intravenous anesthetics on atrial wavelength and atrioventricular nodal conduction in guinea pig heart. Potential antidysrhythmic properties and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: Supraventricular tachydysrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation frequently complicate the perioperative period. Two electrophysiologic factors critical to the pathogenesis of supraventricular tachydysrhythmias are: 1) atrial wavelength, the product of atrial conduction velocity (CV) and effective refractory period (ERP), and 2) atrioventricular nodal conduction. Modulation of these factors by drugs has important clinical ramifications. The authors studied the effects of propofol, thiopental, and ketamine on atrial wavelength and atrioventricular nodal function in guinea pig isolated atrial trabeculae and hearts, respectively. METHODS: Electrocardiogram recordings in superfused atrial tissue were obtained using hanging microelectrodes. A stimulating and two recording electrodes were placed on a single atrial trabecula, and the interelectrode distance was measured. Atrial ERP determinations were made using a premature stimulus protocol. The time (t) required for a propagated impulse to traverse the interelectrode distance (d) was measured. Conduction velocity was calculated as d/t. Langendorff-perfused guinea pig hearts were instrumented for low atrial pacing (cycle length = 300 ms) and for measurements of stimulusto-His bundle interval, an index of atrioventricular nodal conduction. To investigate the frequency-dependent behavior of the atrioventricular node, computer-based measurements were made of Wenckebach cycle length (WCL) and atrioventricular nodal ERP. RESULTS: Thiopental significantly prolonged atrial ERP in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas propofol and ketamine had no significant effect on atrial refractoriness. In contrast, ketamine caused a dose-dependent decrease in atrial CV, but propofol and thiopental had no significant effect on CV. Therefore, thiopental, ketamine, and propofol caused an increase, a decrease, and no change, respectively, in atrial wavelength. All anesthetics caused a concentration-dependent prolongation of the stimulus-to-His bundle interval, atrioventricular nodal ERP, and WCL. However, on an equimolar basis, significant differences in potencies were found. The concentrations of drug that caused a 20% increase in ERP (ERP20) and WCL (WCL20) for propofol, thiopental, and ketamine were 14 +/- 2 microM, 26 +/- 3 microM, and 62 +/- 11 microM, and 17 +/- 2 microM, 50 +/- 1 microM, and 123 +/- 19 microM (mean +/- SEM), respectively. Therefore, the rank order of potency for frequency-dependent atrioventricular nodal effects is propofol > thiopental > ketamine. CONCLUSION: The authors' results indicate that propofol would be most effective at filtering atrial impulses during supraventricular tachydysrhythmias, whereas thiopental would be most effective at preventing atrial reentrant dysrhythmias. In contrast, ketamine may be most likely to promote atrial reentry while having minimal effect on atrioventricular nodal conduction.

Anesthetics, Intravenous↗

Further evidence of localized posterior interatrial conduction delay in lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: Prolongation of interatrial conduction time has been reported in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The study objective was to localize the region of the conduction delay in patients with lone PAF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with lone PAF and 23 patients with AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia ablation without history of PAF (control group) were recruited. Endocardial recordings were made during sinus rhythm and programmed atrial stimulation. The authors measured the interatrial conduction time, the 'right-sided' conduction time between the high lateral right atrium and the proximal coronary sinus (RA-CSp), and the 'left-sided' conduction time between the proximal and the distal coronary sinus (CSp-LA). During sinus rhythm, the interatrial conduction time was longer in the PAF group (103 +/- 19 vs 86 +/- 12 ms, P<0.01) due to delay of right-sided conduction (RA-CSp was 74 +/- 20 vs 56 +/- 10 ms, P<0.01). During programmed stimulation at the distal coronary sinus, the maximal RA-CSp time was also longer in the PAF group (110 +/- 47 vs 69 +/- 16 ms, P<0.05). No differences in CSp-LA time were observed. CONCLUSION: This study supports the role of posterior septal right atrial conduction disturbances in the genesis of lone PAF.

Adult↗

Atrial tachycardia with recipient-to-donor atrioatrial conduction and isthmus-dependent donor atrial flutter in a patient after orthotopic heart transplantation. Successful treatment by radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Atrial arrhythmias are common after orthotopic heart transplantation. We report an unusual case of a patient after heart transplantation with 2 types of atrial arrhythmias: one was a macro-reentrant, incisional, recipient-atrial tachycardia conducted to the donor atrium, and the other was a common-type, isthmus-dependent atrial flutter in the donor atrium. These 2 arrhythmias were successfully treated with selective radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Atrial Flutter↗

Typical atrial flutter ablation: conduction across the posterior region of the inferior vena cava orifice may mimic unidirectional isthmus block.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to map the low right atrium before and after radiofrequency ablation of the inferior vena cava-tricuspid annulus (IVC-TA) isthmus in patients with typical atrial flutter (AFI) to better understand the electrophysiologic meaning of incomplete or unidirectional block following the ablation procedure and its relationship with AFI recurrence. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed atrial mapping in 12 patients using a "basket" catheter in the IVC orifice, Halo catheter in the right atrium, and multipolar catheters in the coronary sinus (CS) and His region. In patients in sinus rhythm, atrial activation was analyzed during pacing from the CS and low lateral right atrium (LLRA) before and after ablation. Atrial activation propagated across the isthmus and posterior region of the IVC orifice simultaneously before ablation. Mapping during AF1 in four patients showed that the crista terminalis was a site of functional block. After ablation, evaluation of Halo catheter recordings in three patients showed apparent unidirectional counterclockwise block, whereas analysis of basket catheter recordings demonstrated complete bidirectional block. The apparent conduction over the isthmus during pacing from proximal CS was due to conduction along the posterior part of the IVC orifice, which activated the LLRA despite complete isthmus block. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that limited endocardial mapping may yield a pattern compatible with unidirectional block in the IVC-TA isthmus, although bidirectional block is present at this anatomic level.

Atrial Flutter↗

Effect of the calcium antagonist diltiazem on atrioventricular conduction in chronic atrial fibrillation.

The effect of oral diltiazem treatment on the mean ventricular rate was studied in 10 patients with stable atrial fibrillation (AF). The profile of mean ventricular rate was analyzed by means of 24-hour electrocardiographic recordings. Both single-dose (120 mg) and maintenance therapy (80 mg 3 times daily) reduced the mean ventricular rate significantly. After the single dose, the effect set in after 120 +/- 40 minutes (mean +/- standard deviation) and persisted for 347 +/- 84 minutes. Histograms of RR intervals were plotted and their changes after diltiazem therapy were also analyzed. The shortest and longest atrioventricular (AV) conduction times were defined as 5% and 95% values of the cumulative frequency curve, respectively. There were 2 distinct types of the RR-interval histographic changes: In 50% of the patients, the longest and shortest RR intervals prolonged proportionately; in the other 50%, the longest intervals increased disproportionately. Results indicate that oral diltiazem treatment can significantly decrease the mean ventricular rate in patients with AF by influencing the concealed conduction in the AV node. The changes of the RR-interval histograms suggest that in 50% of the patients, the increase of the concealed conduction was probably caused primarily by the increase of AF rate, and in 50% both increased AF rate and prolonged refractory period in the AV node contributed to the increase of concealed conduction.

Adult↗

Effects of right and left atrial stimulation on atrioventricular conduction in children.

This study evaluates and compares the effects of right and left atrial stimulation on atrioventricular conduction in ten children without electrocardiographic evidence of dysrhythmias. Atrioventricular nodal conduction (AH) shortened from left atrial stimulation but not from right atrial stimulation. No statistical difference was demonstrated between right and left atrial refractory periods. Similar findings have been shown in adults who were evaluated for dysrhythmias or conduction defects during coronary sinus pacing. Therefore, the internodal pathway through which left atrial activation reaches the atrioventricular node retains its properties of fast conduction throughout the maturational process.

Adolescent↗

Galanin activates an inwardly rectifying potassium conductance in mudpuppy atrial myocytes.

Galanin- and bethanechol-activated K+ currents have been studied in mudpuppy atrial myocytes. The galanin and bethanechol K+ currents were time-dependent and inwardly rectifying. In GTP gamma S, the galanin and bethanechol currents were reduced progressively as G-protein gated K+ channels became activated. GDP beta S inhibited agonist-induced outward currents. We conclude that galanin and bethanechol activate the same or a very similar inwardly rectifying K+ conductance and that activation of a G protein is required.

Animals↗

Conduction block after cardioplegic arrest: prevention by augmented atrial hypothermia.

Atrioventricular conduction abnormalities have become more frequent since the reintroduction of cardioplegic techniques for myocardial preservation during cardiac surgery. An animal model was developed to clarify the role of atrial septal hypothermia in the preservation of the primary site of postoperative conduction delay, the AV node. In our study, 10 animals served as the control group. They were subjected to 40 min of cardioplegic arrest during which the heart was protected with multidose cold potassium cardioplegia. Atrial septal temperatures averaged 27.4 degrees +/- 1.2 degrees C during cardioplegic arrest. We treated 10 additional animals (study group) similarly, except that atrial hypothermia was augmented by intracavitary or specialized topical techniques, which resulted in an average atrial septal temperature of 20.8 degrees +/- 3.3 degrees C (p less than .05). Detailed electrophysiologic studies of both groups were performed at 37 degrees C before and after cardioplegic arrest. Significant prolongation of AV nodal, and to a lesser extent His-Purkinje, conduction times was noted in the control group, but no conduction abnormalities occurred in the study group receiving augmented atrial hypothermia. Thus, conduction block in the specialized conduction system after cardioplegic arrest appears to be related to the adequacy of hypothermic preservation of the atrial septum and can be prevented by augmented atrial hypothermia.

Animals↗

Increased capillary hydraulic conductivity induced by atrial natriuretic peptide.

The small molecular weight peptide, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), produces marked sodium and water excretion. The peptide, extracted from several species of vertebrate heart, also has been shown to increase glomerular filtration and reduce plasma volume. Several mechanisms have been proposed to account for the action of the peptide but remain undefined. In the present report, the ANP-induced alterations in transcapillary water movement were directly assessed. The modified Landis technique was used to measure single capillary hydraulic conductivity (Lp) of vessels from the frog mesenteric circulation. In 6 individual microvessels, Lp was measured under control conditions and again during perfusion with 10 X 10(-6) M ANP. The Lp increased in each vessel by a mean of 3.79-fold (+/- 2.09 SD). In 4 of these vessels, an additional measurement of Lp was repeated under control conditions; the capillary filtration coefficient returned to control levels. It was concluded that ANP directly and reversibly elevates capillary hydraulic conductivity; this response is independent of changes in capillary hydrostatic pressure or surface area.

Animals↗