title: Electrocardiographic manifestations: aberrant ventricular conduction.
abstract: Aberrant ventricular conduction is a common electrocardiographic (EKG) manifestation that occurs when the supraventricular electrical impulse is conducted abnormally through the ventricular conducting system. This results in a wide QRS complex that may be confused with a ventricular ectopic beat. This differentiation is important because the treatment and prognosis is quite different. Hemodynamically unstable patients with a wide-complex tachycardia should be promptly cardioverted. Although up to 10% of cases will defy differentiation, ventricular tachycardia and aberrant conduction can be distinguished utilizing history, physical examination, and EKG criteria. The mechanisms of aberrant ventricular conduction are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, York Hospital, York, Pennsylvania 17405, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Brady
mesh_terms: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D000075202:Contraindications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers