Non-invasive recording of His bundle activity in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Ten patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome underwent external His bundle recording using an advanced signal-averaging technique. Surface ECG waveforms were recorded and digitized at 1.28 kHz (10 bit resolution) and then averaged with a CDC-6600 computer. A cross-correlation function, operating in the frequency domain (using the Fast Fourier Transform algorithm) was employed to extract fiducial synchronizing marks for the waveform alignment. Using this technique, reliable His bundle activity could be recorded in nine of ten patients. There was a good correlation between the HQ and HV intervals obtained during external and internal His bundle recordings, respectively, in seven patients who underwent both recordings. Administration of ajmaline enabled to obtain the His bundle activity using a digital filter with low frequency cut-off of 30 Hz as compared to the cut-off of 150 Hz which was necessary during control to reduce the electrical activity of the delta wave. We conclude that using a computerized cross-correlation signal-averaging technique enables the external His bundle recording in patients with WPW syndrome.