Abstract
Serial electrocardiograms of 14 patients who developed junctional(J)rhythm in the post-operative period(group A) were compared to tracings of 11 patients who had spontaneous J rhythm (group B). The mean (D) age was 8 years in group A and 4.2 in group B. Both were followed for a similar period (average 6.8 years). Initial J rate was higher in group A (M 6M/min) than in group B(M 45/min) and was independent of age. In group A the J rate decreased from 64 to 45/min. and it did not decrease further. J rate was obtainable within 1 week of surgery in only 3 patients of group A and in all was greater than 90/min. This rate decreased also to M 42/min. with maximum decline in the first month. J rate in group B remained constant throughout. Atrial rate in group A was slightly higher than J rate and M atrial/junctional ratio(AJR)was 1.2:1. Atrial rate decreased parallel to J rate indicating sinus node dysfunction. In group B atrial rate was variable, independent of J rate and always higher than J rate with AJR of 2.2:1(M). Group A was found to have an unstable J rate during the early months, but J rate stabilized thereafter with intermittent episodes of brady-tachyarrhythmias seen as a complication of associated sinus node dysfunction.
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Mardini, M., Varghese, P., Nugent, E. et al. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE NATURAL HISTORY OF POST-SURGICAL (ACQUIRED) AND SPONTANEOUS (CONGENITAL) JUNCTIONAL RHYTHM. Pediatr Res 8, 352 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00074
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00074
