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European Heart Journal 1981 2(6):499-507;
Copyright © 1981 by the European Society of Cardiology.
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© 1981 The European Society Of Cardiology

Supernormal conduction and atrial echo beats in the dog*

C. GUIMOND, R. A. LEBLANC, B. PELLETIER, D. GODIN and R. NADEAU

Centre de recherche, Hôpital du Sacrè-Coeur, Montréal, Quèbec Canada
Department of physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitè de Montrèal Montrèal, Quèbec, Canada

Received 5 November 1980; revised 6 April 1981; .

Request for reprints to: Claude Guimond, M.D., centre de recherche, Hôpital du Sacrè-Coeur, 5400 Quest Boul, Gouin Montrèal Quèbec, Canada HJ IC5

Abstract

The occurrence of the supernormal conduction phenomenon during the vulnerable period, overriding phase 3 of the action potential and the relative refractory period, suggests that it could play a significant role in the asynchrony of conduction and induce reetrant arrhythmias. To support this hypothesis, the evolution of the supernormal conduction phenomenon, the echo beats induced by atrial stimulation, the monophasic action potential (MAPa), the effective (ERP) and functional refractory periods (FRP) and the ratio ERP/MAPa have been studied under the influence of disopyramide which reduces the supernormal conduction phenomenon. Three groups of dog were evaluated: control, sympathectomized and atropinized dogs. MAPa duration was not modified in either group and the FRP lengthened in all groups irrespective of whether atrial echo beats persisted or not. The ERP and the ERP/MAPa are more specific. The supernormal conduction phenomenon is the factor that follows the evolution of the echo beats with the most accuracy: it diminished or disappeared in all cases in which the echo beats disappeared. It was not modified in 80% of the cases where the echo beats persisted; there was a ‘grey-zone’ in which one-third of the cases with a reduction of less than 75% of the supernormal conduction phenomenon showed the persistence of echo beats: there is probably a critical point in that zone where there is enough regression of this phenomenon to prevent echo beats.

Key Words: Supernormal conduction • echo beats • action potential • refractory periods • reentry arrhythmias • disopyramide


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