Not so innocent bystander(s).
A patient with atrial flutter, intermittent non-sustained wide complex tachycardia and 1:1 AV conduction is reported. Electrophysiology testing showed counterclockwise isthmus-dependent right atrial flutter with conduction via the AV node and an innocent bystander left lateral accessory pathway. This explained the observed intermittent wide complex tachycardia. After successful bidirectional cavotricuspid isthmus conduction block, a sustained wide complex tachycardia with identical counterclockwise right atrial activation and rate occurred. This was due to antidromic AV re-entrant tachycardia with innocent bystander activation of the right atrium mimicking atrial flutter. Accessory pathway ablation effectively stopped tachycardia.
Gopinathannair
Rakesh
R
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, E 318-5 GH, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. rakesh-gopinathannair@uiowa.edu
Sandesara
Chirag M
CM
Olshansky
Brian
B
D000368:Aged; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome