03960nas a2200325 4500008004100000022001400041245011500055210006900170260001200239300001200251490000700263520302600270653001203296653002403308653001803332653002403350653001203374653001303386653002803399653001703427653002903444653002003473100001703493700001303510700001703523700001403540700001903554700001403573856004703587 1998 eng d a0009-732200aQuantification of effects of global ischemia on dynamics of ventricular fibrillation in isolated rabbit heart.0 aQuantification of effects of global ischemia on dynamics of vent c10/1998 a1688-960 v983 a

BACKGROUND: 

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) leads to global ischemia of the heart. After 1 to 2 minutes of onset, the VF rate decreases and appears more organized. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of no-flow global ischemia on nonlinear wave dynamics and establish the mechanism of ischemia-induced slowing of the VF rate.

METHODS AND RESULTS: 

Activation patterns of VF in the Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart were studied with the use of 2 protocols: (1) 15 minutes of no-flow global ischemia followed by reperfusion (n=7) and (2) decreased excitability induced by perfusion with 5 micromol/L of tetrodotoxin (TTX) followed by washout (n=3). Video imaging ( approximately 7500 pixels per frame; 240 frames per second) with a voltage-sensitive dye, ECG, and signal processing (fast Fourier transform) were used for analysis. The dominant frequency of VF decreased from 13.5+/-1.3 during control to 9.3+/-1.4 Hz at 5 minutes of global ischemia (P<0.02). The dominant frequency decreased from 13.9+/-1.1 during control to 7.0+/-0.3 Hz at 2 minutes of TTX infusion (P<0.001). The rotation period of rotors on the epicardial surface (n=27) strongly correlated with the inverse dominant frequency of the corresponding episode of VF (R2=0. 93). The core area, measured for 27 transiently appearing rotors, was 5.3+/-0.7 mm2 during control. A remarkable increase in core area was observed both during global ischemia (13.6+/-1.7 mm2; P<0.001) and TTX perfusion (16.8+/-3.6 mm2; P<0.001). Density of wave fronts decreased during both global ischemia (P<0.002) and TTX perfusion (P<0.002) compared with control.

CONCLUSIONS: 

This study suggests that rotating spiral waves are most likely the underlying mechanism of VF and contribute to its frequency content. Ischemia-induced decrease in the VF rate results from an increase in the rotation period of spiral waves that occurs secondary to an increase in their core area. Remarkably, similar findings in the TTX protocol suggest that reduced excitability during ischemia is an important underlying mechanism for the changes seen.

10aAnimals10aElectrocardiography10aLinear Models10aMyocardial Ischemia10aRabbits10aRotation10aSodium Channel Blockers10aTetrodotoxin10aVentricular Fibrillation10aVideo Recording1 aMandapati, R1 aAsano, Y1 aBaxter, Bill1 aGray, R A1 aDavidenko, J M1 aJalife, J uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/977833605025nas a2200385 4500008004100000022001400041245011300055210006900168260001200237300001100249490000700260520391000267653002204177653001204199653002704211653002504238653002404263653001004287653002804297653004004325653002704365653002904392653001404421653001604435653001404451653001404465653001204479653002404491100001304515700001904528700001704547700001404564700001404578856004704592 1997 eng d a0735-109700aOptical mapping of drug-induced polymorphic arrhythmias and torsade de pointes in the isolated rabbit heart.0 aOptical mapping of druginduced polymorphic arrhythmias and torsa c03/1997 a831-420 v293 a

OBJECTIVES: 

This study sought to 1) test the hypothesis that in the setting of bradycardia and drug-induced action potential prolongation, multiple foci of early afterdepolarizations (EADs) result in beat to beat changes in the origin and direction of the excitation wave front and are responsible for polymorphic arrhythmias; and 2) determine whether EADs may initiate nonstationary reentry, giving rise to the typical torsade de pointes (TDP) pattern.

BACKGROUND: 

In the past, it has been difficult to associate EADs or reentry with the undulating electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns of TDP.

METHODS: 

A voltage-sensitive dye was used for high resolution video imaging of electrical waves on the epicardial and endocardial surface of the Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart. ECG and monophasic action potentials from the right septal region were also recorded. Bradycardia was induced by ablation of the atrioventricular node.

RESULTS: 

Perfusion of low potassium chloride Tyrode solution plus quinidine led to prolongation of the action potential and the QT interval. Eventually, EADs and triggered activity ensued, giving rise to intermittent episodes of polymorphic arrhythmia. In one experiment, triggered activity was followed by a long episode of vortex-like reentry with an ECG pattern characteristic of TDP. However, in most experiments, focal activity of varying origins and propagation patterns was observed. Triggered responses also showed varying degrees of local block. Similar results were obtained with E-4031. Burst pacing both at control conditions and in the presence of quinidine consistently led to vortex-like reentry whose ECG pattern resembled TDP. However, the cycle length of the arrhythmia with quinidine was longer than that for control ([mean +/- SEM] 194 +/- 12 vs. 132 +/- 8 ms, p < 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS: 

Drug-induced polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias may result from beat to beat changes in wave propagation patterns initiated by EADs or EAD-induced nonstationary reentrant activity. In contrast, burst pacing-induced polymorphic tachycardia in the presence or absence of drugs is the result of nonstationary reentrant activity.

10aAction Potentials10aAnimals10aAnti-Arrhythmia Agents10aArrhythmias, Cardiac10aElectrocardiography10aHeart10aHeart Conduction System10aImage Processing, Computer-Assisted10aModels, Cardiovascular10aOrgan Culture Techniques10aPerfusion10aPiperidines10aPyridines10aQuinidine10aRabbits10aTorsades de Pointes1 aAsano, Y1 aDavidenko, J M1 aBaxter, Bill1 aGray, R A1 aJalife, J uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/909153103253nas a2200301 4500008004100000022001400041245009200055210006900147260001200216300001200228490000700240520238200247653001702629653001202646653003102658653002402689653001702713653002402730653002702754653001002781653002902791100001902820700001702839700001702856700001702873700001402890856004702904 1995 eng d a0009-733000aEffects of pacing on stationary reentrant activity. Theoretical and experimental study.0 aEffects of pacing on stationary reentrant activity Theoretical a c12/1995 a1166-790 v773 a

It is well known that electrical pacing may either terminate or change the rate and/or ECG appearance of reentrant ventricular tachycardia. However, the dynamics of interaction of reentrant waves with waves initiated by external pacing are poorly understood. Prevailing concepts are based on simplistic models in which propagation occurs in one-dimensional rings of cardiac tissue. Since reentrant activation in the ventricles occurs in two or three dimensions, such concepts might be insufficient to explain the mechanisms of pacing-induced effects. We used numerical and biological models of cardiac excitation to explore the phenomena, which may take place as a result of electrical pacing during functionally determined reentry. Computer simulations of a two-dimensional array of electrically coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo cells were used to predict the response patterns expected from thin slices of sheep ventricular epicardial muscle, in which self-sustaining reentrant activity in the form of spiral waves was consistently initiated by premature stimulation and monitored by means of video mapping techniques. The results show that depending on their timing and shape, externally induced waves may collide with the self-sustaining spiral and result in one of three possible outcomes: (1) direct annihilation of the spiral, (2) multiplication of the spiral, or (3) shift of the spiral center (ie, core). Multiplication and shift of the spiral core were attended by changes in rate and morphology of the arrhythmia as seen by "pseudo-ECGs." Furthermore, delayed termination (ie, termination of the activity one to three cycles after the stimulus) occurred after both multiplication and shift of the spiral center. Both numerical predictions and experimental results support the hypothesis that whether a pacing stimulus will terminate a reentrant arrhythmia or modify its ECG appearance depends on whether the interactions between the externally induced wave and the spiral wave result in the de novo formation of one or more "wavebreaks." The final outcome depends on the stimulus parameters (ie, position and size of the electrodes and timing of the stimulus) as well as on the position of the newly formed wavebreak(s) in relation to that of the original wave.

10aAcceleration10aAnimals10aCardiac Pacing, Artificial10aComputer Simulation10aDeceleration10aElectrocardiography10aModels, Cardiovascular10aSheep10aTachycardia, Ventricular1 aDavidenko, J M1 aSalomonsz, R1 aPertsov, A V1 aBaxter, Bill1 aJalife, J uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/758623000781nas a2200289 4500008004100000022001400041245004000055210003900095260001200134300003200146490000800178653001200186653002400198653002400222653002100246653002700267653001200294653002900306100001400335700001400349700001600363700001700379700001200396700001900408700001700427856004700444 1995 eng d a0036-807500aMechanisms of cardiac fibrillation.0 aMechanisms of cardiac fibrillation c11/1995 a1222-3; author reply 1224-50 v27010aAnimals10aComputer Simulation10aElectrocardiography10aHeart Ventricles10aModels, Cardiovascular10aRabbits10aVentricular Fibrillation1 aGray, R A1 aJalife, J1 aPanfilov, A1 aBaxter, Bill1 aCabo, C1 aDavidenko, J M1 aPertsov, A V uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/750205504137nas a2200313 4500008004100000022001400041245013200055210006900187260001300256300001200269490000700281520321100288653001203499653002403511653001003535653004003545653002703585653001403612653001203626653002903638100001403667700001403681700001603695700001703711700001203728700001903740700001703759856004703776 1995 eng d a0009-732200aNonstationary vortexlike reentrant activity as a mechanism of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in the isolated rabbit heart.0 aNonstationary vortexlike reentrant activity as a mechanism of po c05/1995  a2454-690 v913 a

BACKGROUND: 

Ventricular tachycardia may result from vortexlike reentrant excitation of the myocardium. Our general hypothesis is that in the structurally normal heart, these arrhythmias are the result of one or two nonstationary three-dimensional electrical scroll waves activating the heart muscle at very high frequencies.

METHODS AND RESULTS: 

We used a combination of high-resolution video imaging, electrocardiography, and image processing in the isolated rabbit heart, together with mathematical modeling. We characterized the dynamics of changes in transmembrane potential patterns on the epicardial surface of the ventricles using optical mapping. Image processing techniques were used to identify the surface manifestation of the reentrant organizing centers, and the location of these centers was used to determine the movement of the reentrant pathway. We also used numerical simulations incorporating Fitzhugh-Nagumo kinetics and realistic heart geometry to study how stationary and nonstationary scroll waves are manifest on the epicardial surface and in the simulated ECG. We present epicardial surface manifestations (reentrant spiral waves) and ECG patterns of nonstationary reentrant activity that are consistent with those generated by scroll waves established at the right and left ventricles. We identified the organizing centers of the reentrant circuits on the epicardial surface during polymorphic tachycardia, and these centers moved during the episodes. In addition, the arrhythmias that showed the greatest movement of the reentrant centers displayed the largest changes in QRS morphology. The numerical simulations showed that stationary scroll waves give rise to monomorphic ECG signals, but nonstationary meandering scroll waves give rise to undulating ECGs characteristic of torsade de pointes.

CONCLUSIONS: 

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in the healthy, isolated rabbit heart is the result of either a single or paired ("figure-of-eight") nonstationary scroll waves. The extent of the scroll wave movement corresponds to the degree of polymorphism in the ECG. These results are consistent with our numerical simulations that showed monomorphic ECG patterns of activity for stationary scroll waves but polymorphic patterns for scroll waves that were nonstationary.

10aAnimals10aElectrocardiography10aHeart10aImage Processing, Computer-Assisted10aModels, Cardiovascular10aPerfusion10aRabbits10aTachycardia, Ventricular1 aGray, R A1 aJalife, J1 aPanfilov, A1 aBaxter, Bill1 aCabo, C1 aDavidenko, J M1 aPertsov, A V uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7729033