The tetrafascicular nature of the intraventricular conduction system

Clin Cardiol. 2019 Jan;42(1):169-174. doi: 10.1002/clc.23093. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Abstract

The existence of a tetrafascicular intraventricular conduction system remains debatable. A consensus statement ended up with some discrepancies and, despite agreeing on the possible existence of an anatomical left septal fascicle, the electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic characteristics of left septal fascicular block (LSFB) were not universally accepted. The most important criteria requested to confirm the existence of LSFB is its intermittent nature. So far, our group has published cases of transient ischemia-induced LSFB and phase 4 or bradycardia-dependent LSFB. Finally, anatomical, anatomopathological, histological, histopathological, electrocardiographic, vectorcardiographic, body surface potential mapping, and electrophysiology studies support the fact that the left bundle branch divides into three fascicles or a "fan-like interconnected network."

Keywords: intraventricular conduction system; left septal fascicle; left septal fascicular block.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Body Surface Potential Mapping / methods*
  • Bundle-Branch Block / diagnosis
  • Bundle-Branch Block / physiopathology*
  • Heart Conduction System / physiopathology*
  • Humans