Fr. Andrade et al., DIAGNOSTIC CLUES FROM THE SURFACE ECG TO IDENTIFY IDIOPATHIC (FASCICULAR) VENTRICULAR-TACHYCARDIA - CORRELATION WITH ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIC FINDINGS, Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology, 7(1), 1996, pp. 2-8
ECG in Idiopathic Fascicular VT. Introduction: An RS interval > 100 ms
ec in precordial leads has been recently described for the diagnosis o
f ventricular tachycardia (VT). The aim of this study was to assess th
e value of this criterion when applied to patients with right bundle b
ranch block pattern, left-axis deviation (fascicular) VT sensitive to
verapamil. Methods and Results: Eleven patients (mean age 31 +/- 11 ye
ars; range 16 to 51) had a mean heart rate of 164 +/- 37 beats/min (ra
nge 107 to 230) during VT. The QRS complex axis was -92 degrees +/- -1
5 degrees (range -80 to -115). The mean QRS duration was 121 +/- 9 mse
c (range 105 to 140). The mean RS interval was 67 +/- 9 msec (range 60
to 80). Fusion beats were present in 2 patients (18%), and AV dissoci
ation confirmed by electrophysiologic study was found on ECG in 8 (73%
) of 11. During tachycardia, the QRS-H' interval was 19 +/- 10 msec (r
ange 10 to 30) in 6 of 11 patients. In seven patients, a fast, unique
(or double) presystolic potential lasting 32 msec (range 12 to 40) occ
urring before the onset of the QRS complex was found at the site of or
igin of VT, localized in the inferior apical left ventricular septum.
In all cases, VT was successfully treated by catheter ablation. Conclu
sion: A wide QRS complex tachycardia with right bundle branch block an
d left-axis deviation sensitive to verapamil observed in a young patie
nt without structural heart disease should not be confused with suprav
entricular tachycardia with aberrancy but rather suggests the presence
of fascicular VT. As opposed to VT associated with structural heart d
isease, the RS interval is < 80 msec in all precordial leads in all ca
ses. Independent of this parameter, AV dissociation detectable on surf
ace ECG has a sensitivity of 73%, which increases to 82% in the presen
ce of fusion beats.