The Wenckebach phenomenon between electric pacemaker and ventricle

H O Klein; E Di Segni; E Kaplinsky; L Schamroth

doi:10.1136/hrt.38.9.961

. 1976 Sep;38(9):961–965. doi: 10.1136/hrt.38.9.961

The Wenckebach phenomenon between electric pacemaker and ventricle.

H O Klein, E Di Segni, E Kaplinsky, L Schamroth

PMCID: PMC483112 PMID: 971379

Abstract

Two cases which exhibited a Wenckebach form of exit conduction between an electrical pacemaker and the ventricular myocardium are presented. This manifests with increasing latency (stimulus to QRS intervals) and ultimate stimulus failure (block). The cycle then repeats itself. The QRS duration also increases progressively within each cycle. The phenomenon connotes an adverse prognosis. Several postulates regarding the mechanism are discussed.