Demonstration of sustained sinus and atrial re-entry as a mechanism of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

Electrophysiological studies in five patients with documented (4) or suspected (1) paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), suggested sinus or atrial reentrance (SR or AR). Two of the patients had preexcitation, three had evidence of atrial enlargement, and all had organic heart disease. The following observations supported a diagnosis of SR and AR; 1) induction of sustained PSVT with atrial extrastimulus technique allowing definition of an echo zone; 2) induction of sustained PSVT during constant rapid atrial pacing at a rate less than that producing A-V nodal Wenckebach periods, or producing normalization of QRS complex in patients with pre-excitation: 3) P waves preceding each QRS during PSVT with an A-H interval appropriate for the rate of the PSVT; 4) antegrade P wave morphology during PSVT, a normal high to low sequence of right atrial activation (SR), or P wave morphology and atrial activation sequence different from sinus (AR); 5) lack of correlation of PSVT induction with critical A-H interval. The rates of induced sustained PSVT ranged from 114 to 143 beats/min, and were similar to those observed during spontaneous episodes of PSVT in the four patients. PSVT could be terminated with critically timed extra-stimuli or carotid massage. In conclusion, SR and AR appear to be mechanisms of spontaneous PSVT in man. Rates of SR and AR PSVT tend to be relatively slow.