Advanced Concepts of Atrioventricular Nodal Electrophysiology: Observations on the Mechanisms of Atrioventricular Nodal Reciprocating Tachycardias

Atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is a supraventricular arrhythmia easily diagnosed by 12-lead electrocardiogram. What is far more challenging, is the understanding of the reentrant circuit in its typical and atypical presentations. The function of the atrioventricular node is still incomplete and this knowledge gap is reflected in the reconstruction of the pathways used by AVNRT in its multiform presentations. This article illustrates the heterogeneous electrocardiographic manifestations of AVNRT. We reconstruct the reentrant circuits involved using more recent understanding of the anatomic and electrophysiologic characteristics of the atrioventricular node.