A healthy 20 y.o. man presented with lightheadedness.
There are great comments I've now posted at the bottom from Ken Grauer and Jerry Jones.
The symptoms began about 2 weeks prior and were exertional. He stated that he plays on a college basketball team and he noticed over the previous 2 weeks that every time he exercised with the team he felt lightheaded.
There was no actual history of syncope. He had had no associated chest pain, shortness of breath or palpitations. He had had no symptoms at rest or associated with positional changes. No history of similar symptoms previously. No history of heart or lung disease. There was no family history heart problems, sudden death, drowning, deafness. He did not take any medications.
Here is his ECG:
Learning Point:
1. Complete AV block is only one etiology of AV dissociation. Isorhythmic dissociation is another.
2. Isorhythmic Dissociation is a benign condition.
Here is a very nice article on AV dissociation:
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/151715-overview
Here is a nice article on Isorhythmic Dissociation: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/circulationaha/42/4/689.full.pdf
Here is a nice example of Isorhythmic Dissociation with a Laddergram:
https://www.ecgguru.com/ecg/isorhythmic-v-dissociation
Here are other examples of Isorhythmic Dissociation:
Here are other posts on AV dissociation and AV block
There are great comments I've now posted at the bottom from Ken Grauer and Jerry Jones.
The symptoms began about 2 weeks prior and were exertional. He stated that he plays on a college basketball team and he noticed over the previous 2 weeks that every time he exercised with the team he felt lightheaded.
There was no actual history of syncope. He had had no associated chest pain, shortness of breath or palpitations. He had had no symptoms at rest or associated with positional changes. No history of similar symptoms previously. No history of heart or lung disease. There was no family history heart problems, sudden death, drowning, deafness. He did not take any medications.
Here is his ECG:
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| What do you think? The treating physicians diagnosed complete AV block. |
There is a narrow complex bradycardia at a rate of about 42. It is hard to determine if there is a P-wave before the first complex, as that complex is at the edge of the tracing.
The 2nd complex definitely does NOT have a P-wave in front, nor does the 3rd or 4th. However, the 5th has a P-wave which is followed very shortly (at less than 120 ms) by a QRS. The 6th has a slightly longer PR interval, and the 7th and 8th longer still.
The longest of the PR intervals is the 7th.
What is this rhythm? Is there AV block?
No! At least we see no evidence of block here. There is no P-wave which does not conduct. This is AV dissociation. But not all AV dissociation is due to AV block. In this case, it is "Isorhythmic Dissociation." The sinus node and the AV node just happen to be discharging at the same rate, and also coincidentally are happening at about the exact same time.
The AV node is too impatient to wait for the sinus beat to conduct.
Let's look at it again with annotation:
 |
The P-wave in complex 7 probably conducts (red line is PR interval).
But I cannot prove this!
The black lines in complexes 6 and 8 are exactly the same length as the red line in the 7th.
You can see that the QRS initiates before the end of the black line in 6 and 8.
Thus, the AV node is firing before the impulse from the sinus node had a chance to arrive.
So the AV node was too impatient to wait for AV conduction.
For complexes 2, 3, and 4, the P-wave is hidden in the QRS.
Complex 5 has a preceding P-wave, but the very short PR interval makes it obvious that the QRS fired before that sinus impulse had a chance to conduct.
|
Beyond rhythm, the ECG is completely normal for a young man, with early repolarization (see classic J-waves in II, aVF, V4-V6)
Could there be AV block? Yes, it is possible, and we cannot disprove AV block based on this ECG. But we have no reason to think there is AV block.
If the AV node is firing, why are there no retrograde P-waves? Because the sinus node fires before the impulse from below can reach the atrium. The ascending impulse from the AV node meets the descending impulse from the sinus node and they block each other.
How could we demonstrate absence of AV block? Just have the patient do a bit of exercise to increase his sinus rate to a rate faster than the AV node rate.
Another ECG was recorded later in the ED:
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| There is a slightly faster sinus rate now, almost 50, and now all P-waves are conducting. This shows that the J-waves were indeed J-waves, not hidden P-waves |
Clinical course:
The patient was admitted because of concern for intermittent complete AV block.
A walk test showed appropriate responsiveness of the sinus node with good AV conduction.
An echo was normal.
Learning Point:
1. Complete AV block is only one etiology of AV dissociation. Isorhythmic dissociation is another.
2. Isorhythmic Dissociation is a benign condition.
Here is a very nice article on AV dissociation:
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/151715-overview
Here is a nice article on Isorhythmic Dissociation: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/circulationaha/42/4/689.full.pdf
Here is a nice example of Isorhythmic Dissociation with a Laddergram:
https://www.ecgguru.com/ecg/isorhythmic-v-dissociation
Here are other examples of Isorhythmic Dissociation:
Sudden weakness with bradycardia and bizarre T-waves
Here are other posts on AV dissociation and AV block
AV Dissociation Lecture by K. Wang (28 minutes)
A Mystery Rhythm, Explained by K. Wang's Ladder Diagram.
What Kind of AV Block is This? Guest Post by Dr. K. Wang (The Rhythm Master), Using a Ladder Diagram
Atrial Flutter. What else?? (AV dissociation with block)
Great comments from Jerry Jones and Ken Grauer:
Steve...
Great case! In my classes I emphasize recognizing the difference between 3rd degree AV block and simple AV dissociation because the implications and the resulting workup and treatments are so different. It's unfortunate how many people interpreting ECGs think 3rd degree AV block is defined by AV dissociation (obviously, it isn't!).
I do take issue with the sentence "There is no P-wave which does not conduct." Actually, there is only one P wave that conducts (the capture beat) and it results in the slightly shorter R-R interval toward the end. I think a better way to phrase the sentence would be that "there is no P wave that failed to conduct that did not have an obvious reason for not conducting." All but one P wave arrives at the AV node or His bundle during the effective refractory period. As you well know, it isn't the AV dissociation that defines 3rd degree AV block - it's the failure of a P wave to conduct when there is no reason for it NOT to have conducted.
This is, indeed, isorhythmic dissociation but it is sometimes referred to as dissociation by interference (the other two types being dissociation by default and by usurpation). What's unusual here is that the atrial rate is slightly faster than the ventricular rate which is a situation typically seen with 3rd degree AV block. You can, however, see this in the interference type of AV dissociation. So the old adage that "if the atrial rate is faster than the ventricular rate, then it must be 3rd degree AV block" is simply not always true.
Thanks for a very informative and educational site.
Great case! In my classes I emphasize recognizing the difference between 3rd degree AV block and simple AV dissociation because the implications and the resulting workup and treatments are so different. It's unfortunate how many people interpreting ECGs think 3rd degree AV block is defined by AV dissociation (obviously, it isn't!).
I do take issue with the sentence "There is no P-wave which does not conduct." Actually, there is only one P wave that conducts (the capture beat) and it results in the slightly shorter R-R interval toward the end. I think a better way to phrase the sentence would be that "there is no P wave that failed to conduct that did not have an obvious reason for not conducting." All but one P wave arrives at the AV node or His bundle during the effective refractory period. As you well know, it isn't the AV dissociation that defines 3rd degree AV block - it's the failure of a P wave to conduct when there is no reason for it NOT to have conducted.
This is, indeed, isorhythmic dissociation but it is sometimes referred to as dissociation by interference (the other two types being dissociation by default and by usurpation). What's unusual here is that the atrial rate is slightly faster than the ventricular rate which is a situation typically seen with 3rd degree AV block. You can, however, see this in the interference type of AV dissociation. So the old adage that "if the atrial rate is faster than the ventricular rate, then it must be 3rd degree AV block" is simply not always true.
Thanks for a very informative and educational site.
-
Hi Jerry. This tracing is even more complex than it at first seems. Although in the 1st ECG, the sinus P wave rate is faster than the junctional escape rate toward the end of the tracing — I believe it most probably was SLOWER before these last few beats in the 1st ECG. Closely comparing QRS morphology of the escape beats to me suggests that a sinus P wave occurs just before onset of the QRS of beat #4; and just after the QRS of beat #3. I think the very slight elevation of the notch at the end of the QRS of beat #2 is due to the occurrence of a sinus P wave, which (if I am correct), would indicate that the sinus rate was indeed SLOWER than the junctional escape rate earlier on in the tracing. Of note — P wave morphology preceding the last beat ( = beat #8) in this 1st ECG is different (ie, flatter) than sinus P waves — which I believe is due to takeover by a low atrial rhythm. I believe this premise is supported by the 2nd ECG, for which P wave morphology in the long lead II is clearly different (flatter and notched) compared to P wave morphology in the 1st ECG for the sinus P waves. So as I suggested in my earlier Comment (from May 12) — I think the underlying rhythm in this case is marked sinus bradycardia + sinus arrhythmia — which results in switch of the pacemaker site between EITHER an AV nodal escape focus at 42/minute OR a low atrial escape. What remains to be shown (stated, but not documented in the initial presentation) — is whether there will or will not be an appropriate response to exercise in this previously healthy 20-year old who did present with exertional symptoms of “lightheadedness” (which of course is not “normal” for a 20-year old). THANKS as always for your insightful comments! I thought this was a GREAT case for discussion!
Hi Ken! Always great to hear from you and get your input. I agree that this is a very complex tracing but I want to avoid reading too much into it. I think you are absolutely correct in that this is a sinus brady with sinus arrhythmia that has been usurped by a junctional pacemaker, most likely arising in the His bundle rather than the AV node or NH transition. While a focal ectopic atrial tachycardia is not that uncommon, an atrial escape rhythm is very, very uncommon - mainly because whatever (probably parasympathetic input) is causing the sinus brady almost always has the same effect on the areas of the atria with escape pacemaker activity. A junctional pacemaker in the His bundle would be affected very little - if at all. Regarding the conduction of the sinus (or atrial) impulses, after reviewing the first tracing again, I think there is a very strong argument that only the last two P waves conducted and they may even be P' waves (certainly the last one is, as you pointed out). I don't think the 3rd-from-last P wave conducted because - using my calipers - the QRS that follows it is right on time for the junctional escape rhythm. Plus, even though the PR interval is 0.20 seconds, that is not enough time for this AV node to conduct. The last two PR intervals are visibly longer than 0.20 seconds and so are the PR intervals in the final ECG. There are two kinds of "normal" PR intervals: the textbook normal (0.12 - 0.20 sec) and then whatever is "normal" for the patient. The last two QRS complexes are definitely out of sync with the junctional rhythm, so I think they were conducted. To say the 3rd-from-last QRS conducted, one would have to rely on coincidence and I always try to avoid invoking magic, divine intervention and coincidence as an explanation for a dysrhythmia. Admittedly, this can be difficult at times!
Hi Jerry. Thanks for your additional comment. Just to clarify — I never said (or meant to imply) that beat #5 was conducted — on the contrary, NOT only the shorter PR interval, but also the different QRS shape of this beat #5 (compared to beat #6 which IS conducted, and which manifests a shorter R wave) indicates that beat #5 is NOT being conducted. My point was simply that as uncommon as atrial escape rhythm might be in this setting — the change in P wave shape for this last beat (beat #8) in ECG #1, together with this same different (smaller, notched) P wave shape for each of the beats that are conducted in the 2nd tracing to me suggested that in addition to junctional escape — there was also an atrial escape rhythm occurring. As I believe we both believe — more monitoring would be needed to clarify this — and the clinical relevance of what we see will only be determined once we can determine if there is or is not an appropriate response to exercise in this previously healthy 20-year old who did present with exertional symptoms of “lightheadedness”. THANKS as always for your thoughts!
Interesting case and great walk-through and explanation Dr Smith!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for making availabe such great resources here on your website.
Thanks for the feedback!
DeleteIsorhythmic dissociation- yes with occasional conducted beats. But what about the exertional dizziness. If asked, would you be willing to clear this man for ongoing competitive sports without further evaluation. I love your blog and you have made me a better cardiologist and I appreciate your evident disdain for our ecg reading skills which I do not dispute. Yet the question remains, would you give your imprimatur for ongoing participation without further testing.
DeleteYikes. I hope I didn't imply that I have disdain for anyone's reading skills. I do think some cardiologists sometimes fail to listen to the views of non-cardiologists and that patients would benefit from some increased humility in that regard.
DeleteIn my opinion, that was not investigated thoroughly, but it is not explained by the rhythm on the ECG. A normal echo was reassuring, but I would have insisted upon a stress test.
Steve...
ReplyDeleteGreat case! In my classes I emphasize recognizing the difference between 3rd degree AV block and simple AV dissociation because the implications and the resulting workup and treatments are so different. It's unfortunate how many people interpreting ECGs think 3rd degree AV block is defined by AV dissociation (obviously, it isn't!).
I do take issue with the sentence "There is no P-wave which does not conduct." Actually, there is only one P wave that conducts (the capture beat) and it results in the slightly shorter R-R interval toward the end. I think a better way to phrase the sentence would be that "there is no P wave that failed to conduct that did not have an obvious reason for not conducting." All but one P wave arrives at the AV node or His bundle during the effective refractory period. As you well know, it isn't the AV dissociation that defines 3rd degree AV block - it's the failure of a P wave to conduct when there is no reason for it NOT to have conducted.
This is, indeed, isorhythmic dissociation but it is sometimes referred to as dissociation by interference (the other two types being dissociation by default and by usurpation). What's unusual here is that the atrial rate is slightly faster than the ventricular rate which is a situation typically seen with 3rd degree AV block. You can, however, see this in the interference type of AV dissociation. So the old adage that "if the atrial rate is faster than the ventricular rate, then it must be 3rd degree AV block" is simply not always true.
Thanks for a very informative and educational site.
Hi Jerry. This tracing is even more complex than it at first seems. Although in the 1st ECG, the sinus P wave rate is faster than the junctional escape rate toward the end of the tracing — I believe it most probably was SLOWER before these last few beats in the 1st ECG. Closely comparing QRS morphology of the escape beats to me suggests that a sinus P wave occurs just before onset of the QRS of beat #4; and just after the QRS of beat #3. I think the very slight elevation of the notch at the end of the QRS of beat #2 is due to the occurrence of a sinus P wave, which (if I am correct), would indicate that the sinus rate was indeed SLOWER than the junctional escape rate earlier on in the tracing. Of note — P wave morphology preceding the last beat ( = beat #8) in this 1st ECG is different (ie, flatter) than sinus P waves — which I believe is due to takeover by a low atrial rhythm. I believe this premise is supported by the 2nd ECG, for which P wave morphology in the long lead II is clearly different (flatter and notched) compared to P wave morphology in the 1st ECG for the sinus P waves. So as I suggested in my earlier Comment (from May 12) — I think the underlying rhythm in this case is marked sinus bradycardia + sinus arrhythmia — which results in switch of the pacemaker site between EITHER an AV nodal escape focus at 42/minute OR a low atrial escape. What remains to be shown (stated, but not documented in the initial presentation) — is whether there will or will not be an appropriate response to exercise in this previously healthy 20-year old who did present with exertional symptoms of “lightheadedness” (which of course is not “normal” for a 20-year old). THANKS as always for your insightful comments! I thought this was a GREAT case for discussion!
DeleteHi Ken! Always great to hear from you and get your input. I agree that this is a very complex tracing but I want to avoid reading too much into it. I think you are absolutely correct in that this is a sinus brady with sinus arrhythmia that has been usurped by a junctional pacemaker, most likely arising in the His bundle rather than the AV node or NH transition. While a focal ectopic atrial tachycardia is not that uncommon, an atrial escape rhythm is very, very uncommon - mainly because whatever (probably parasympathetic input) is causing the sinus brady almost always has the same effect on the areas of the atria with escape pacemaker activity. A junctional pacemaker in the His bundle would be affected very little - if at all. Regarding the conduction of the sinus (or atrial) impulses, after reviewing the first tracing again, I think there is a very strong argument that only the last two P waves conducted and they may even be P' waves (certainly the last one is, as you pointed out). I don't think the 3rd-from-last P wave conducted because - using my calipers - the QRS that follows it is right on time for the junctional escape rhythm. Plus, even though the PR interval is 0.20 seconds, that is not enough time for this AV node to conduct. The last two PR intervals are visibly longer than 0.20 seconds and so are the PR intervals in the final ECG. There are two kinds of "normal" PR intervals: the textbook normal (0.12 - 0.20 sec) and then whatever is "normal" for the patient. The last two QRS complexes are definitely out of sync with the junctional rhythm, so I think they were conducted. To say the 3rd-from-last QRS conducted, one would have to rely on coincidence and I always try to avoid invoking magic, divine intervention and coincidence as an explanation for a dysrhythmia. Admittedly, this can be difficult at times!
DeleteThank you, Jerry!
DeleteHi Jerry. Thanks for your additional comment. Just to clarify — I never said (or meant to imply) that beat #5 was conducted — on the contrary, NOT only the shorter PR interval, but also the different QRS shape of this beat #5 (compared to beat #6 which IS conducted, and which manifests a shorter R wave) indicates that beat #5 is NOT being conducted. My point was simply that as uncommon as atrial escape rhythm might be in this setting — the change in P wave shape for this last beat (beat #8) in ECG #1, together with this same different (smaller, notched) P wave shape for each of the beats that are conducted in the 2nd tracing to me suggested that in addition to junctional escape — there was also an atrial escape rhythm occurring. As I believe we both believe — more monitoring would be needed to clarify this — and the clinical relevance of what we see will only be determined once we can determine if there is or is not an appropriate response to exercise in this previously healthy 20-year old who did present with exertional symptoms of “lightheadedness”. THANKS as always for your thoughts!
DeleteCan you clarify why he was becoming lightheaded if he had an appropriate response with exertion?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, that was not investigated thoroughly, but it is not explained by the rhythm on the ECG.
DeleteOK.but the pt is complaning of lightheadedness on effort and you say that the isorhythmic AV dissociation improves by increasing HR then why he complains.thanks
ReplyDelete
DeleteIn my opinion, that was not investigated thoroughly, but it is not explained by the rhythm on the ECG.
Great illustrative example with discussion of the important concepts of AV dissociation vs AV block. I’ll offer a somewhat different explanation (based on alternative terminology). There are 3 types of AV Dissociation: i) AV dissociation by “default” (ie, when the rate of the SA node slows to less than the normal escape rate of the AV node); ii) AV dissociation by “usurpation” (ie, when the AV node speeds up to a rate that exceeds the sinus rate — in which case the accelerated AV nodal rhythm takes over. This used to be common in the days when Digoxin was used, and many more cases of Dig toxicity was seen); and iii) AV dissociation in associated with 2nd or 3rd degree AV block. The KEY condition that must be satisfied for there to be AV block is that P waves which “have a chance to conduct fail to do so”. That never happens here, because the PR interval of those beats that don’t conduct never have a “chance” to conduct (the PR interval is too short to allow conduction, as per Pendell). So the underlying rhythm here appears to be Sinus Bradycardia. This results in AV dissociation by “default” (ie, due to excessive slowing of the sinus rate). Rather than “being impatient” — the AV node (which typically is “set” at an escape rate between 40-60/minute) is perfectly appropriate — the AV node see no sinus impulse, so it therefore appropriately (rather than “impatiently”) puts out an escape rhythm at 42/minute. As per Pendell, this is a GOOD thing — since otherwise the overall rate would be much slower … I strongly suspect that rather than “isorhythmic AV dissociation” — the actual sinus rate is changing ( = sinus arrhythmia). In fact, the 2nd ECG is NOT “sinus rhythm” — because in the long lead II the P wave is not clearly positive, and it is initially negative in leads III and aVF. It is much more positive in leads I and aVL than in lead II — which suggests a low atrial (or possibly coronary sinus rhythm). We actually see this in ECG #1 — because the clearly upright sinus P waves before the 5th and 6th QRS complexes are different in morphology than the notched and tiny P before the 8th beat in the long lead II in ECG #1. This suggests that the underlying rhythm is especially marked sinus bradycardia + sinus arrhythmia, which results in switch of the pacemaker site between EITHER an AV nodal escape focus at 42/minute OR a low atrial escape. A simple exercise test would be invaluable for clarifying how appropriate or inappropriate this excessive sinus bradycardia might be in this 20 year old man who has exertional symptoms of lightheadedness (a symptom complex that is not “normal” for a 20-year old). FINAL PEARL — Note in the long lead II rhythm strip for ECG #1 that the 7th beat manifests a QRS complex that looks DIFFERENT than all other QRS complexes in this 1st tracing. Sometimes junctional beats manifest slightly different QRS morphology than sinus-conducted beats (because onset of the impulse may not be from the “top” of the AV node, but rather from some other site within the AV node). When you see this (as we DO in ECG #1) — it is a wonderful CLUE to clarify which beats are sinus vs AV nodal conducted. This 7th beat occurs EARLY — which is why it is sinus conducted. But the 8th beat occurs later, and is preceded by a smaller and notched P wave (similar to Ps in ECG #2) and its QRS is again taller. This 8th beat is probably FUSION between the low atrial focus and junctional escape focus (because it is preceded by an R-R interval EXACTLY equal to the R-R interval of the preceding 6 junctional beats). GREAT case for illustrating key concepts about AV dissociation vs AV block. THANKS for presenting!
ReplyDeleteExcellent comments, thanks Ken! This wasn't actually my case but I agree with the learning points above.
DeleteConsidering the patient symptoms, what would you consider the treatment to be? Is pacemaker indicated in such a condition?
ReplyDeleteSee case resolution and discussion above. No treatment necessary, no pacemaker.
Deleteinteresting conversations... so much said about a P wave.
ReplyDeletethank you, guys.
tom