Bigeminal rhythm IV.

rhythm with each early complex having a wide QRS. Although the wide QRS superficially suggests that this is ventricular bigeminy, the perfect right-bundle-branchblock pattern (RS in lead I, qRS in lead V6, rsR ́ in lead V1) suggests that the early complex is an aberrantly conducted supraventricular complex. The atrial rhythm is typical counterclockwise atrial flutter with negative P waves in leads II, III, and aVF and positive P waves in lead V1. There are 6 flutter waves for every 2 QRSs. Atrial flutter only infrequently is conducted to the ventricles in a straightforward 3:1 pattern, but often appears to be conducted in a 2:1, 4:1 pattern. This produces a bigeminal rhythm, and here the short R-R interval is followed by a QRS complex with aberrant ventricular conduction of the right-bundle-branchblock type. The right bundle branch normally has the longest refractory period of any part of the conduction system (1). Why would atrial flutter waves be conducted 2:1, 4:1 rather than 3:1? One explanation is that there is block at 2 levels in the atrioventricular junction with 2:1 block above and 3:2 type I block below (Figure 2). As Castellanos et al have pointed out, this may be a simplistic explanation for more complicated electrophysiological mechanisms (2). Atrial flutter waves frequently distort the electrocardiographic baseline and in so doing confuse the computer, which read this electrocardiogram as an acute inferior myocardial infarct. The patient is a 49-year-old man with systemic arterial hypertension, frequent binge alcohol abuse, including the