Non-invasive detection of arrhythmogenic foci of atria by using the cardioelectric field on the surface of the body during experimental pulmonary hypertension

Aim. The potential distribution of the cardioelectric field on the body surface during the initial atrial activity and the sequence of depolarization of the atrial subepicardium in rats with experimentally induced pulmonary hypertension were compared. This work is devoted to non-invasive detection of arrhythmogenic foci of atria by using the cardioelectric field on the body surface during experimental pulmonary hypertension.Materials and methods. The method of cardioelectrochronotopography has been used to study the electric field of the heart on the body surface and the sequence of propagation of the excitation wave along the atrial epicardium in rats with experimentally induced pulmonary hypertension caused by a single injection of monocrotaline (60 mg / kg, four weeks after drug administration).Results. Pulmonary hypertension causes the appearance of an additional focus of initial excitation in the area of the pulmonary vein lacunae, which leads to an increase in the heterogeneity of the propagation of the excitation wave along the atrial epicardium. The appearance of the additional excitation focus in the mouths of the pulmonary veins in the left atrium changes the picture of the sequence of depolarization of the atrial epicardium. The heterogeneity of the propagation of the excitation wave along the atrial epicardium is reflected in a different arrangement of zones of positive and negative cardioelectric potentials on the body surface before and during the P-wave in comparison with the initial state.Conclusion. Induced pulmonary hypertension contributes to the appearance of an additional focus of initial excitation in the area of the sleeves of the pulmonary veins of the left atrium in rats. This leads to an increase in the heterogeneity of the propagation of the excitation wave along the atrial epicardium. This is also reflected in the change in the arrangement of the zones of positive and negative cardioelectric potentials on the body surface before and during the P-wave in comparison with the initial state.