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Critical role of inhomogeneities in pacing termination of cardiac reentry
Journal Title
Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science
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Publication Date
2002-09-01
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12
Publication Issue
3
Publication Begin
893
Publication End
902
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Abstract
Reentry around nonconducting ventricular scar tissue, a cause of lethal arrhythmias, is typically treated by rapid electrical stimulation from an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. However, the dynamical mechanisms of termination (success and failure) are poorly understood. To elucidate such mechanisms, we study the dynamics of pacing in one- and two-dimensional models of anatomical reentry. In a crucial realistic difference from previous studies of such systems, we have placed the pacing site away from the reentry circuit. Our model-independent results suggest that with such off-circuit pacing, the existence of inhomogeneity in the reentry circuit is essential for successful termination of tachycardia under certain conditions. Considering the critical role of such inhomogeneities may lead to more effective pacing algorithms.
Citation
Sinha S, Stein KM, Christini DJ. Critical role of inhomogeneities in pacing termination of cardiac reentry. Chaos. 2002 Sep;12(3):893-902. doi: 10.1063/1.1501176. PMID: 12779614.