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A Technique for the Rapid Diagnosis of Wide Complex Tachycardia with 1:1 AV Relationship in the Electrophysiology Laboratory
Author(s) -
ABDELWAHAB AMIR,
GARDNER MARTIN J.,
BASTA MAGDY N.,
PARKASH RATIKA,
KHAN AAMIR,
SAPP JOHN L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2009.02308.x
Subject(s) - medicine , tachycardia , cardiology , supraventricular tachycardia , electrophysiology study , qrs complex , atrial tachycardia , electrophysiology , ventricle , electrocardiography , atrium (architecture) , ablation , atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia , anesthesia , accessory pathway , catheter ablation , atrial fibrillation
Background:The differential diagnosis of wide complex tachycardia (WCT) with 1:1 atrioventricular (AV) relationship is broad. Accurate identification of the tachycardia mechanism is essential for successful ablation. We suggest a simple pacing maneuver that can immediately clarify the tachycardia mechanism in the electrophysiology laboratory.Methods:Eight consecutive patients (four males, 32 ± 14 years) demonstrating stable sustained WCT with persistent 1:1 AV relationship during electrophysiologic testing were included in this study. During the tachycardia, atrial overdrive pacing was performed. The following responses were observed: (1) a change of the QRS morphology during atrial pacing and (2) the first return electrogram of the tachycardia, whether occurring in the atrium (AVA response) or in the ventricle (AVVA response).Results:Atrial overdrive pacing was successfully performed in all patients. It was associated with either a change or narrowing of the QRS in all ventricular tachycardia (VT) patients but not in supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) patients. All VT patients had an AVVA response upon cessation of atrial overdrive pacing as opposed to AVA response in SVT patients, P = 0.029.Conclusion:The response to atrial overdrive pacing during WCT with 1:1 AV relationship can rapidly diagnose or rule out VT as a mechanism of tachycardia.