Intraventricular Delay and Blocks

From the atrioventricular node, electrical activation is propagated to both ventricles by a system of specialized conducting fibers, His Purkinje System (HPS), guaranteeing a fast, synchronous depolarization of both ventricles. From the predivisional common stem, a right and left branch separate, subdividing further in a fairly predictable fashion. Synchronous ventricular activation results in a QRS with specific characteristics and duration of less than 110 milliseconds. Block or delay in any part of the HPS changes the electrocardiographic (ECG) morphology. This article discusses the use and limitations of standard ECG in detecting abnormal ventricular propagation in specific areas of the HPS.