Ventricular escape beat

In cardiology, a ventricular escape beat is a self-generated electrical discharge initiated by, and causing contraction of the ventricles of the heart; normally the heart rhythm is begun in the atria of the heart and is subsequently transmitted to the ventricles. The ventricular escape beat follows a long pause in ventricular rhythm and acts to prevent cardiac arrest. It indicates a failure of the electrical conduction system of the heart to stimulate the ventricles (which would lead to the absence of heartbeats, unless ventricular escape beats occur).

Animation illustrating the normal activation of the electrical conduction system of the heart: starting from the sinoatrial node, an electrical impulse spreads across the atria, then passes through the atrioventricular node (AV node) and conducts on via the bundle branches towards the ventricles.

Causes

Ventricular escape beats occur when the rate of electrical discharge reaching the ventricles (normally initiated by the heart's sinoatrial node (SA node), transmitted to the atrioventricular node (AV node), and then further transmitted to the ventricles) falls below the base rate determined by the rate of Phase 4 spontaneous depolarisation of ventricular pacemaker cells.[1] An escape beat usually occurs 2–3 seconds after an electrical impulse has failed to reach the ventricles.[2]

This phenomenon can be caused by the sinoatrial node (SA node) failing to initiate a beat, by a failure of the conductivity from the SA node to the atrioventricular node (AV node), or by atrioventricular block (especially third degree AV block). Normally, the pacemaker cells of the sinoatrial node discharge at the highest frequency and are thus dominant over other cells with pacemaker activity. The AV node normally has the second fastest discharge rate. When the sinus rate falls below the discharge rate of the AV node, this becomes the dominant pacemaker, and the result is called a junctional escape beat. If the rate from both the SA and AV node fall below the discharge rate of ventricular pacemaker cells, a ventricular escape beat ensues.

An escape beat is a form of cardiac arrhythmia, in this case known as an ectopic beat. It can be considered a form of ectopic pacemaker activity that is unveiled by lack of other pacemakers to stimulate the ventricles. Ventricular pacemaker cells discharge at a slower rate than the SA or AV node. While the SA node typically initiates a rate of 70 beats per minute (BPM), the atrioventricular node (AV node) is usually only capable of generating a rhythm at 40-60 BPM or less. Ventricular contraction rate is thus reduced by 15-40 beats per minute.[3]

If there are only one or two ectopic beats, they are considered escape beats. If this causes a semi-normal rhythm to arise it is considered an idioventricular rhythm.

The escape arrhythmia is a compensatory mechanism that indicates a serious underlying problem with the SA node or conduction system (commonly due to heart attack or medication side effect), and because of its low rate, it can cause a drop in blood pressure and syncope.

Diagnosis

An electrocardiogram can be used to identify a ventricular escape beat. The QRS portion of the electrocardiogram represents the ventricular depolarisation; in normal circumstances the QRS complex forms a sharp sudden peak. For a patient with a ventricular escape beat, the shape of the QRS complex is broader as the impulse can not travel quickly via the normal electrical conduction system.[4]

The first 2.5 seconds show a normal cardiac cycle. This is followed by a period of delayed sinus activity which initiates a takeover response by the ventricular pacemaker cells resulting in a ventricular escape beat. Two escape beats are shown between 5-8 seconds.

Ventricular escape beats differ from ventricular extrasystoles (or premature ventricular contractions), which are spontaneous electrical discharges of the ventricles. These are not preceded by a pause; on the contrary they are often followed by a compensatory pause.

Management

Cilostazol

Third degree AV block can be treated with Cilostazol which acts to increase Ventricular escape rate [5]

Ouabain

Ouabain infusion decreases ventricular escape time and increases ventricular escape rhythm. However, a high dose of ouabain can lead to ventricular tachycardia.[2]

References
  1. C. Andreasen, et al. (2006) Mosby Elsevier, Mosby's Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions 7th edition, p1951
  2. Banka VS, Scherlag BJ, Helfant RH (January 1975). "Contractile and electrophysiological responses to progressive digitalis toxicity". Cardiovasc. Res. 9 (1): 65–72. doi:10.1093/cvr/9.1.65. PMID 1122512.
  3. D.D. Costa, W.J. Brady, J. Edhouse (March 2002), BMJ Publishing Group Ltd., ABC of clinical electrocardiography, British Medical Journal: 324:535-538.
  4. Adams MG, Pelter MM (September 2003). "Ventricular escape rhythms". Am. J. Crit. Care. 12 (5): 477–8. doi:10.4037/ajcc2003.12.5.477. PMID 14503433.
  5. Kodama-Takahashi K, Kurata A, Ohshima K, et al. (April 2003). "Effect of cilostazol on the ventricular escape rate and neurohumoral factors in patients with third-degree atrioventricular block". Chest. 123 (4): 1161–9. doi:10.1378/chest.123.4.1161. PMID 12684307.
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