Robustness of local forcing in inhibition of reentry
Ekaterina Zhuchkova
It was systematically analyzed and has been shown that the
low-voltage "point" forcing is not a robust method to terminate
reentrant arrhythmias. Even in homogeneous isotropic tissue
simulated by a simplified ionic model it was found that
success/failure of local pacing strongly depends on the type of
reentry, location of the electrode, phase of stimuli during the
rotation period, stimulation frequency and waveform and the size
of tissue. Along with elimination of spiral waves, shift of spiral
cores closer to unexcitable boundaries or no effect, the local
forcing may also cause spiral-wave turbulence (fibrillation) and
prolong existence of an otherwise self-terminating single spiral
wave (reentrant tachycardia).