Investigating mechanisms of arrhythmia induced from conduction delay zone using computer simulation

Abstract

Electrical excitation conduction abnormalities at the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) are one of the arrhythmogenic substrates despite normal heart. However, how much delay at the RVOT develops ventricular arrhythmias is not quantitatively investigated. In this study, we constructed a three-dimensional human ventricular model including 20 million myocardial units to investigate the role of conduction delay in the RVOT on initiation and maintenance of the ventricular arrhythmias. Electrical coupling conductance between two units in the conduction delay zone and size of conduction delay zone could be freely changed. Ventricular arrhythmia inducibility in the heart with conduction delay zone around the RVOT was higher compared with the heart with conduction delay the right ventricular free wall. Anatomical complexities and electrophysiological heterogeneity around the RVOT might act as important role in induction spiral wave reentry to transfer to ventricular arrhythmia.