3D simulation of the electrical activity patterns in the ischemic heart

A 3D simulation of the electrical activation map of the acute and chronic ischemic left ventricle (LV) is presented. The myocardial activation time maps and the signal propagation trajectories are determined by stipulating that the activation signals always propagate along the fastest possible trajectories. The high degree of nonhomogeneity of the physiological and electrophysiological tissue properties associated with the pathological ischemic LV is accounted for. The basic parameters are geometry and structure of the LV structural parameters on the macro level, distribution of the conduction speeds and refractory periods, effect of ischemia on the Purkinje and conduction networks, and details of ectopic activity. Ventricular tachycardia, reentrant circuits, and wave fractionation are detected when ectopic activity occurs at certain combinations of physiological parameters, demonstrating the potential of this 3-D simulation to determine the conditions responsible for the formation of arrhythmias.<>