ECG aberrancy means the heartbeat does not follow the usual conduction system of the heart. Atrial fibrillation with ECG aberrancy means people have an irregular heart rhythm with abnormal conduction.
Doctors use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the electrical activity of the heart and assess how the heart is beating. Irregularities in an ECG can signal a problem with the heart rhythm or electrical activity.
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heart rhythm. Aberrancy is a type of abnormality in the way a heartbeat passes through the heart conduction system.
Aberrancy means a deviation from what is usual what healthcare professionals expect. In cardiology, aberrancy refers to a change in the typical heart conduction system.
Aberrancy in ECG refers to a change in how the heartbeat travels through the heart. People may also use the term aberrant conduction.
The heart conduction system is a pathway of cells, nodes, and electrical signals that controls when parts of the heart contract and relax, which creates a heartbeat.
A regular heartbeat follows a standard
- The sinus node, which works as a natural pacemaker, creates an electrical signal called an excitation signal.
- This signal travels through the left and right atria, which are the top two chambers of the heart, causing a contraction.
- The signal then reaches the atrioventricular (AV) node.
- Once the atria have emptied of blood, the AV node conducts the signal to the bundle of His, which is a bundle of nerve fibers.
- The bundle of His splits into the left and right bundle branches, which divide off into thousands of smaller branches of nerve cells called the Purkinje fibers.
- The bundle of His conducts the signal to the Purkinje fibers.
- The Purkinje fibers conduct the signal to the left and right ventricles, the two lower chambers of the heart, causing a contraction.
With an aberrant ECG, there is an atypical conduction of beats through the heart, which does not follow the usual conduction pathway.
Learn more about the heart and its function and structure.
AFib is an arrhythmia, which is an irregular heart rhythm. It is a type of tachycardia, a heartbeat that beats faster than normal.
Heart rhythm is
AFib with aberrancy means there is a problem with the heart conduction system,
The left and right bundle branches help conduct signals to the ventricles. With
A bundle branch block causes a delay in one of the bundle branches. This means the electrical signal travels more slowly through one branch than the other. This causes the ventricles to contract at different times, creating an irregular heartbeat.
People may have a left or right bundle branch block, depending on which bundle branch has the delay.
Treatment for AFib with aberrancy may depend on the type of abnormal conduction people have, its severity, and any other symptoms or health conditions. Treatment
- medications, which can alter how quickly or slowly the heart beats
- surgery or implantable devices, such as pacemakers or defibrillators
- vagal maneuvers, which are relaxation techniques to slow the heart rate
A 2020 case study details treatment for a male with an ECG showing AFib with aberrant conduction. Doctors discovered the individual was experiencing low potassium levels.
Doctors treated the condition by restoring typical potassium levels with oral and intravenous (through the veins) potassium.
Some people
Other treatments for abnormal conduction and AFib may include catheter ablation. This procedure uses radiofrequency waves to destroy the atypical heart tissue that is causing an irregular heartbeat.
What is atrial rhythm with aberrant conduction?
An atrial rhythm, such as AF, means an electrical signal starts in the atria rather than the typical sinus node. An atrial rhythm with aberrant conduction means there is an abnormality in how the electrical signal passes through the heart.
What is an SVT with aberrancy?
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a heart rate that is faster than typical and begins in the atria. SVT with aberrancy is SVT with abnormal conduction, such as a bundle branch block.
What does SVT look like on ECG?
SVT will appear as a narrow complex on an ECG, in which certain waves are bunched closer together, indicating a faster heart rate than typical. There will be no P waves. The ECG may show that people have a heart rate of around
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) with ECG aberrancy means the ECG shows AFib with an issue in the heart’s conduction system.
Treatment for AFib with aberrancy may depend on the type and severity of conduction disorder people have.
A doctor may monitor a person’s condition, and individuals may need medications, surgery, or an implantable device to regulate heart rhythm and electrical activity.