Cardiovascular research
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Cardiovascular research · Jul 1996
Electrical alternans and the onset of rate-induced pulsus alternans during acute regional ischaemia in the anaesthetised pig heart.
Electrical alternans and mechanical alternans are both associated with cardiac ischaemia and in the case of electrical alternans there is a strong link with serious ventricular arrhythmia. We elected to investigate the relationship between electrical and mechanical alternans in control and acutely ischaemic myocardium in the intact porcine heart to determine the nature of their interaction and in particular to determine if abnormal mechanical events play a role in arhythmogenesis as has been suggested in non-ischaemic preparations. ⋯ Pulsus alternans during acute ischaemia is associated with electrical alternans that can be out of phase in control and ischaemic areas. This could increase electrical dispersion which may be pro-arrhythmic.