Rotors anchored by refractory islands drive torsades de pointes in an experimental model of electrical storm.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Electrical storm (ES) is a life-threatening emergency in patients at high risk of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VF), but the pathophysiology and molecular basis are poorly understood.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the electrophysiological substrate for experimental ES.

Methods

A model was created by inducing chronic complete atrioventricular block in defibrillator-implanted rabbits, which recapitulates QT prolongation, torsades des pointes (TdP), and VF episodes.

Results

Optical mapping revealed island-like regions with action potential duration (APD) prolongation in the left ventricle, leading to increased spatial APD dispersion, in rabbits with ES (defined as ≥3 VF episodes/24 h). The maximum APD and its dis

SUBMITTER: Yamazaki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8810573 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature