Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026
A Model of Long-Term Ventricular Fibrillation in Isolated Rat Hearts
Published on: February 17, 2023
Ischemic QRS prolongation as a predictor of ventricular fibrillation in a canine model
Jakob Almer1, Robert B Jennings2, Michael Ringborn3
1a Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine , Skåne University Hospital and Lund University , Lund , Sweden.
Insights
Ischemic QRS prolongation (IQP) during acute coronary occlusion is linked to reperfusion ventricular fibrillation (VF). This finding in a dog model suggests IQP may predict dangerous arrhythmias in acute coronary syndrome patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Experimental Medicine
- Arrhythmia Research
Background:
- Acute coronary occlusion is a leading cause of mortality.
- Myocardial ischemia can lead to lethal ventricular fibrillation (VF).
- Coronary collateral flow influences ischemia severity and QRS prolongation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if ischemic QRS prolongation (IQP) predicts impending VF.
- To investigate the association between IQP and VF in an experimental model.
- To assess IQP as a potential biomarker for malignant arrhythmias.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an experimental acute ischemia dog model (n=21).
- Measured IQP and VF occurrence during 15 minutes of coronary occlusion.
- Recorded data during both occlusion and subsequent reperfusion phases.
Main Results:
- Dogs developing VF during reperfusion showed significantly greater IQP (47±29 ms) compared to those without VF (12±10 ms).
- The difference in IQP between the groups was statistically significant (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- IQP during acute coronary occlusion is associated with reperfusion VF in dogs.
- IQP may serve as a potential predictor of malignant arrhythmias.
- This experimental finding has implications for managing patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Objectives:
An acute coronary occlusion and its possible subsequent complications is one of the most common causes of death. One such complication is ventricular fibrillation (VF) due to myocardial ischemia. The severity of ischemia is related to the amount of coronary arterial collateral flow. In dog studies collateral flow has also been shown to be associated with QRS prolongation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ischemic QRS prolongation (IQP) is associated with impending VF in an experimental acute ischemia dog model.
Methods:
Degree of IQP and occurrence of VF were measured in dogs (n = 21) during coronary occlusion for 15 min and also during subsequent reperfusion (experiments conducted in 1984).
Results:
There was a significant difference in absolute IQP between dogs which developed VF during reperfusion (47 ± 29 ms, mean ± SD) and those which did not (12 ± 10 ms; p = .001).
Conclusions:
IQP during acute coronary occlusion is associated with reperfusion VF in an experimental dog model and might therefore be a potential predictor of malignant arrhythmias in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Related Concept Videos
03:03Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...
03:03Amyloid Fibrils
01:11Fibril-associated Collagen
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...
01:25ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
02:00Molecular Models