OBJECTIVES: This study sought to quantify characteristics of atrial conduction disorders in patients with right atrial (RA) volume overload. BACKGROUND: Patients with an interatrial shunt are prone to developing atrial fibrillation (AF), which may be related to conduction disorders occurring due to atrial stretch. METHODS: Thirty-one patients undergoing surgery for an interatrial shunt (49 ± 14 years of age) underwent epicardial sinus rhythm mapping of the RA, Bachmann's bundle (BB), and left atrium (LA). Conduction delay (CD) was defined as interelectrode conduction time (CT) of 7 to 11 ms and conduction block (CB) as CT ≥12 ms. Prevalence of CD or CB (percentage of mapped region), length of lines, and severity of CB (75th percentile of CTs ≥12 ms) were analyzed. RESULTS: All patients had some degree of CD and CB. Prevalence of CD and CB was higher in the RA and BB than in the LA (p < 0.0083 after Bonferroni correction). The longest CB line within each patient was found in the RA in most patients (52%). Interindividual variation in prevalence and lengths of lines was considerable. CB was more severe in the RA than in the LA (p < 0.0083). Within the RA, conduction disorders were more prevalent and more severe in the intercaval region than in the RA free wall (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with an interatrial shunt, conduction disorders during sinus rhythm are most pronounced in the RA-particularly the intercaval region-and BB. Knowledge of the conduction during sinus rhythm is essential to determine the relevance of conduction disorders for initiation and perpetuation of AF.
OBJECTIVES: This study sought to quantify characteristics of atrial conduction disorders in patients with right atrial (RA) volume overload. BACKGROUND:Patients with an interatrial shunt are prone to developing atrial fibrillation (AF), which may be related to conduction disorders occurring due to atrial stretch. METHODS: Thirty-one patients undergoing surgery for an interatrial shunt (49 ± 14 years of age) underwent epicardial sinus rhythm mapping of the RA, Bachmann's bundle (BB), and left atrium (LA). Conduction delay (CD) was defined as interelectrode conduction time (CT) of 7 to 11 ms and conduction block (CB) as CT ≥12 ms. Prevalence of CD or CB (percentage of mapped region), length of lines, and severity of CB (75th percentile of CTs ≥12 ms) were analyzed. RESULTS: All patients had some degree of CD and CB. Prevalence of CD and CB was higher in the RA and BB than in the LA (p < 0.0083 after Bonferroni correction). The longest CB line within each patient was found in the RA in most patients (52%). Interindividual variation in prevalence and lengths of lines was considerable. CB was more severe in the RA than in the LA (p < 0.0083). Within the RA, conduction disorders were more prevalent and more severe in the intercaval region than in the RA free wall (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with an interatrial shunt, conduction disorders during sinus rhythm are most pronounced in the RA-particularly the intercaval region-and BB. Knowledge of the conduction during sinus rhythm is essential to determine the relevance of conduction disorders for initiation and perpetuation of AF.
Authors: Rohit K Kharbanda; Mathijs S van Schie; Wouter J van Leeuwen; Yannick J H J Taverne; Charlotte A Houck; Janneke A E Kammeraad; Ad J J C Bogers; Natasja M S de Groot Journal: Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg Date: 2021-01-01
Authors: Mathijs S van Schie; Rohit K Kharbanda; Charlotte A Houck; Eva A H Lanters; Yannick J H J Taverne; Ad J J C Bogers; Natasja M S de Groot Journal: Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol Date: 2021-06-18