title: Three-dimensional computer model of the heart: fibrillation induced by extrastimulation.
abstract: We present a three-dimensional (3D) computer model that simulates electrical activity in the heart during fibrillation. A real dog heart is discretized to form 1473 interconnected cubic elements. The model exhibits normal activation and recovery from pacing. Five or more extrastimuli induce a self-sustaining tachyarrhythmia that soon degenerates into a fibrillatory rhythm. The extrastimuli increase the excitability of the myocardial cell population. The result is a rapid re-excitation of cells that allows for only a partial recovery of cell action potential. This suggests that a dispersion of refractory states of the cell population is the cause of fibrillation in this computer model.
authors: Biomedical Engineering Department, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
authors: N V
authors: NV
authors: Thakor
authors: L N
authors: LN
authors: Eisenman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000503:physiopathology; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012984:Software; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000503:physiopathology; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*