Electrophysiological observations during QRS alternans in a patient with incessant tachycardia

Electrophysiological observations during preoperative and intraoperative study of a 46-year-old patient with incessant ventricular tachycardia and QRS alternans demonstrated a potential mechanism for this electrocardiographic finding. During QRS alternans, conduction delay (or block) was recorded from the site of origin of the tachycardia, high on the anterior septum to the His bundle: After procainamide infusion, the tachycardias slowed and, concurrent with the disappearance of QRS alternans, conduction from the site of tachycardia origin to the His bundle could no longer be demonstrated.