[PDF][PDF] Electrical restitution, critical mass, and the riddle of fibrillation
RF Gilmour, DR Chialvo - Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology, 1999 - Citeseer
RF Gilmour, DR Chialvo
Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology, 1999•CiteseerThe elusive riddle of ventricular fibrillation (VF) has been approached from many creative
angles. The latest, presented by Wu et al in this issue of the journal [1], examines the effects
of restitution properties on the “critical mass” ie, the minimum size of cardiac tissue capable
of sustaining fibrillation. What is noteworthy about this novel effort is that the very basis for
the working hypothesis is rooted in deep mathematical concepts, a brief and highly selective
chronological account of which we attempt here, since it has interesting aspects. The trail …
angles. The latest, presented by Wu et al in this issue of the journal [1], examines the effects
of restitution properties on the “critical mass” ie, the minimum size of cardiac tissue capable
of sustaining fibrillation. What is noteworthy about this novel effort is that the very basis for
the working hypothesis is rooted in deep mathematical concepts, a brief and highly selective
chronological account of which we attempt here, since it has interesting aspects. The trail …
The elusive riddle of ventricular fibrillation (VF) has been approached from many creative angles. The latest, presented by Wu et al in this issue of the journal [1], examines the effects of restitution properties on the “critical mass” ie, the minimum size of cardiac tissue capable of sustaining fibrillation. What is noteworthy about this novel effort is that the very basis for the working hypothesis is rooted in deep mathematical concepts, a brief and highly selective chronological account of which we attempt here, since it has interesting aspects.
The trail begins with Nolasco and Dahlen, who in 1968 used a straightforward graphical technique to demonstrate that under certain conditions electrical alternans was a dynamical consequence of the slope of the restitution relation for action potential duration (APD)[2]. If the slope of the APD restitution relation (the relation between APD and the preceding diastolic interval) was> 1, APD alternans was possible, whereas if the slope was< 1, it was not.
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