Automatism Heterotopic

Heterotopic automatism is a motor automatism that arises as a result of impulses coming from a focus of excitation located outside the nomotopic (main) pacemaker. This type of automaticity may be associated with cardiac problems such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia.

Heterotopic pacemakers can originate in different parts of the heart, such as the atria, ventricles, or atrioventricular junction. Impulses coming from these foci can lead to disruption of the normal rhythm of the heart and the occurrence of arrhythmias.

If heterotopic automaticity occurs in the atria or ventricles, it can lead to atrial fibrillation. This arrhythmia is characterized by an irregular rhythm and can be very dangerous to health.

In the case of ventricular tachycardia, heterotopic impulses can lead to rapid and irregular contraction of the ventricles. This can cause cardiac arrest and lead to death.

Various methods are used to treat heterotopic automaticity, including drug therapy and cardiac pacing. It is important to consult a doctor promptly for diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmia in order to prevent possible complications.

Heterotopic automatism Heterotopic automatism is the motor automatism of the heart that arises due to impulses arising from foci of excitation located outside the pacemaker, called the nomotopic pacemaker. In the literature on electrocardiology, it is customary to call such impulses heterotopic impulses. They form not only in the sinoatrial node (SA node), but also in other parts of the myocardium, such as Purkinje fibers or ventricular nodes.

Physiology of heterotropic impulses Heterotopic impulses arising in other cardiac zones differ from the normal sinus impulse in frequency, duration and electrical phase sequence. The frequency of heterotopic pulses varies depending on their source; The duration may also vary. Pulses can arrive discretely (with a certain interval), or continuously, in certain sequences. Some heterotopic pacemakers, such as the SA node, have their own activity that can last for a long time without causing a heart rhythm. There are other modulated rhythms, when two or more heterotopic foci can stimulate the heartbeat. If the focus of heterotopic excitation is located near the SA node or is under its control, then this situation is called orthodromic (that is, in phase) heterotopic activity. If a heterotopic pacemaker is controlled from another region of the myocardium (the so-called heterotopic disorder of cardiac automaticity), then this is an example of antidromic (phases differ) heterotropic activity. Antidromic heterotopic activity, for example, is associated with interruption of the myocardial contraction/expansion cycle or myocardial infarction. Clinical significance Disturbances of heterotropic automaticity often accompany various diseases, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, LGL syndrome (cardiac form), etc. Heterotropic automaticity is also observed in patients with short PQ interval syndrome, and is also characterized by a form of ventricular tachycardia ( torsade de pointes), ventricular fibrillation