Normally SA node generates impulses that travel to the AV node and gets delayed there to assure that the contraction cycle in atria is complete before a contraction begins in the ventricles. From the AV node, the impulses pass through the His-Purkinje system to cause ventricular contraction. Pathological delay in the AV node is visualized on an electrocardiogram as a change in the P-R interval. These delays are known as an AV block. No impulses from the SA node get conducted to the ventricles, and this leads to a complete atrioventricular dissociation. The SA node continues to activate at a set rate, but the ventricles will activate through an escape rhythm that can be mediated by either the AV node, one of the fascicles, or by ventricular myocytes themselves. The heart rate will mostly be less than 45 to 50 beats/min, and most patients will be hemodynamically unstable.
Third degree AV block pathophysiology
Sinoatrial arrest pathophysiology
Pacemaker syndrome pathophysiology
Dextrocardia pathophysiology
Pulseless ventricular tachycardia pathophysiology
AVNRT pathophysiology
Third degree AV block classification
Second degree AV block epidemiology and demographics