CHAPTER 7: Ventricular Preexcitation
163
GLOSSARY
Bundle of Kent:
a congenital abnormality in
which a bundle of myocardial fibers con-
nects the atria and the ventricles.
Delta wave:
a slowing of the initial aspect of
the QRS complex caused by premature exci-
tation (preexcitation) of the ventricles via a
bundle of Kent.
Fusion beat:
activation of the ventricles by two
different wavefronts, resulting in an abnor-
mal appearance of the QRS complexes on
the ECG.
Preexcitation
premature activation of the ven-
tricular myocardium via an abnormal AV path-
way called a “bundle of Kent.”
Tachyarrhythmia:
an abnormal cardiac
rhythm with a ventricular rate 100 beats
per minute.
Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome:
the clin-
ical combination of a short PR interval, an
increased duration of the QRS complex caused
by an initial slow deflection (delta wave), and
supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.
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