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Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...
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Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by a defect in the heart's conduction system. It can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too quickly, or too slowly, leading to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting. Factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, certain drugs, congenital defects, diseases, and electrolyte abnormalities can trigger arrhythmias.
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Dysrhythmias IV: Characteristics of Bradyarrhythmias01:18

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Mechanical modulation of atrial flutter cycle length.

Flavia Ravelli1, Michela Masè, Marcello Disertori

  • 1Laboratory of Biophysics and Biosignals, Department of Physics, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, Povo-Trento, Italy. ravelli@science.unitn.it

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
|March 25, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mechano-electrical feedback (MEF) explains atrial flutter (AFL) cycle length variability. Mechanical forces from breathing and heartbeats influence AFL, suggesting non-neural mechanisms are key to understanding this arrhythmia.

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Medical Physics

Background:

  • Atrial flutter (AFL) is typically regular, but exhibits minor cycle length fluctuations.
  • Recent studies suggest cyclic variations in atrial volume and pressure post-ventricular contraction influence AFL variability.
  • The mechano-electrical feedback (MEF) hypothesis posits that atrial volume changes modulate AFL cycle length by altering conduction properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the variability pattern of typical atrial flutter (AFL) using spectral analysis.
  • To provide further support for the mechano-electrical feedback (MEF) hypothesis in AFL cycle length variability.
  • To analyze the influence of mechanical factors on AFL cycle length and ventricular intervals.

Main Methods:

  • Spectral analysis of AFL cycle length variability in 30 patients with typical AFL.
  • Pharmacologic autonomic blockade to assess the role of neural mechanisms.
  • Analysis of atrial and ventricular intervals during inspiration and expiration.
  • Computer simulations of atrioventricular conduction.

Main Results:

  • AFL cycle length exhibited spontaneous beat-to-beat variability with oscillations linked to ventricular contraction and respiration.
  • These oscillations persisted after autonomic blockade, indicating non-neural origins.
  • Respiratory oscillations showed a reverse pattern (longer cycle length during inspiration), supporting mechanical modulation of AFL reentry.
  • Ventricular interval oscillations, amplified by a factor of 1.8, occurred with longer intervals during inspiration.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanical fluctuations, not neural factors, are primary drivers of AFL cycle length variability.
  • The mechano-electrical feedback (MEF) hypothesis is supported by the observed mechanical modulation of AFL.
  • These mechanical influences on AFL can have clinically relevant, magnified effects on ventricular variability.