Noninvasive recording of the His bundle electrogram in neonates.

Area of Science:

• Neonatal cardiology
• Electrophysiology

Background:

• The His bundle's electrical activity is crucial for cardiac conduction.
• Assessing His bundle function in neonates is important for understanding early cardiac development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of surface His bundle electrocardiography in normal neonates.
• To determine His bundle and ventricular conduction intervals in the neonatal period.

Main Methods:

• High-resolution electrocardiography was performed on 27 healthy, non-sedated neonates within the first four days of life.
• Techniques included high amplification, analogue and digital filtering, and signal averaging.
• His bundle deflections, PH interval, and HV interval were measured.

Main Results:

• His bundle deflections were detected in 92.6% (25/27) of neonates, with amplitudes ranging from 0.75-7.75 microV (mean 2.5 microV).
• The mean PH interval was 83 ms (range 60-105 ms) and the mean HV interval was 17 ms (range 10-25 ms).
• Conduction intervals were significantly shorter than those typically observed in older age groups.

Conclusions:

• Surface His bundle electrocardiography is a readily performable and effective method in neonates.
• Neonatal conduction intervals, including PH and HV intervals, are considerably shorter than in older populations.
• This technique provides valuable insights into early cardiac electrophysiology.