Application of the fastest route algorithm in the interactive simulation of the effect of local ischemia on the ECG.

A method is described to determine the effect on the ECG of a reduced propagation velocity within an ischemic zone. The method was designed to change the activation sequence throughout the ventricles interactively, i.e. with a response time in the order of a second. The timing of ventricular ischemic activation was computed by using the fastest route algorithm, based on locally reduced values of the propagation velocities derived from a standard, normal activation sequence. The effect of these local reductions of the velocities on the total activation sequence, as well as the changes in the electrocardiogram that these produce, are presented.