Differential diagnosis of slow/slow atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia from atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia using concealed posteroseptal accessory pathway by 12-lead electrocardiography

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2003 Dec;26(12):2296-300. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2003.00362.x.

Abstract

Slow pathways are used as both antegrade and retrograde conduction pathway in slow/slow atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (SS-AVNRT), and patients with SS-AVNRT have tachycardia ECGs mimicking atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia using concealed posteroseptal accessory pathway (PS-AVRT). Therefore, SS-AVNRT can be misdiagnosed as PS-AVRT, and the differential diagnosis is clinically important. Standard 12-lead ECGs during tachycardia were analyzed in patients with SS-AVNRT (n = 10) and PS-AVRT (n = 10). All these patients were diagnosed by electrophysiological study and underwent successful catheter ablation. Differences of the RP' intervals (dRP') between V1 and the inferior leads were evaluated. SS-AVNRT had significantly longer RP' intervals measured in V1 (167 +/- 25.2 vs 137 +/- 26.8 ms, SS-AVNRT vs PS-AVRT, respectively, P = 0.02), longer dRP' between V1 and II (dRP'[V1-II], 37 +/- 14 vs 17 +/- 6.7 ms, P = 0.0007), longer dRP'[V1-III] (39 +/- 14 vs 17 +/- 9.9 ms, P = 0.0011), and longer dRP'[V1-aVF] (39 +/- 13 vs 20 +/- 9.5 ms, P = 0.0008). The following criteria were suggested for differential diagnosis of SS-AVNRT from PS-AVRT: dRP'[V1-II] >25 ms (sensitivity and specificity: 80% and 100%, respectively), dRP'[V1-III] >23 ms (90% and 90%), dRP'[V1-aVF] >30 ms (90% and 90%). Differences of the RP' intervals between V1 and the inferior leads in the tachycardia ECGs were useful for differential diagnosis of SS-AVNRT from PS-AVRT.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Electrocardiography* / instrumentation
  • Equipment Design
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / diagnosis*