Trigeminal Tachycardia: Alternate Cycle Interpolation

Report:

Sinus rhythm 85/min

VEBs, interpolated in alternate cycles

Trigeminy

Comment:

The P waves are regular throughout, but the PR intervals alternate, due to interpolation of the VEBs. The LBBB pattern of the VEBs has a characteristically slurred downstroke of right ventricular VEBs.

There is an overall tachycardia which is, as it were, 1/3 ventricular in origin! Interpolation in alternate cycles is a relatively common pattern, resulting in trigeminy. This is most lucidly explained by Schamroth40. Just imagine the concealed retrograde conduction, prolonging the post-VEB PR intervals, replaced by complete block for the P waves concerned: this would become a common or garden bigeminy. Trigeminy in alternate cycles is thus bigeminy manqué.

I saw this patient again 20 years later, in 1996; both he and his wife recalled the car accident and the propranolol-induced equanimity when asked, amazed at my memory. Of course, I did not remember them – but I had been using his ECG for teaching ever since!

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