Idioventricular rhythm
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:
Synonyms and keywords: IVR
Overview
Normally, the SA node is responsible for triggering each heart beat that results in ventricular contraction. However, if the ventricle does not receive triggering signals at a rate high enough, the ventricular myocardium itself becomes the pacemaker or escape rhythm. This is called idioventricular rhythm. Ventricular signals are transmitted cell-to-cell between cardiomyocytes and not by the conduction system, creating wide sometimes bizarre QRS complexes of a duration more than 0.12 seconds. The rate is usually 20-40 beats per minute. If the rate is more than 40 beats per minute, it is called accelerated idioventricular rhythm. Idioventricular rhythm can occur as an escape rhythm, or as an increased automaticity of a single ventricular ectopic pacemaker. This increased automaticity may lead to rates that are faster than the intrinsic rate of the upper pacemakers.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Idioventricular rhythm is a life-threatening condition and must be treated as such irrespective of the causes. Life-threatening conditions can result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.
Common Causes
Causes by Organ System
Cardiovascular | No underlying causes |
Chemical/Poisoning | No underlying causes |
Dental | No underlying causes |
Dermatologic | No underlying causes |
Drug Side Effect | No underlying causes |
Ear Nose Throat | No underlying causes |
Endocrine | No underlying causes |
Environmental | No underlying causes |
Gastroenterologic | No underlying causes |
Genetic | No underlying causes |
Hematologic | No underlying causes |
Iatrogenic | No underlying causes |
Infectious Disease | No underlying causes |
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic | No underlying causes |
Neurologic | No underlying causes |
Nutritional/Metabolic | No underlying causes |
Obstetric/Gynecologic | No underlying causes |
Oncologic | No underlying causes |
Ophthalmologic | No underlying causes |
Overdose/Toxicity | No underlying causes |
Psychiatric | No underlying causes |
Pulmonary | No underlying causes |
Renal/Electrolyte | No underlying causes |
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy | No underlying causes |
Sexual | No underlying causes |
Trauma | No underlying causes |
Urologic | No underlying causes |
Miscellaneous | No underlying causes |