AV Nodal Re-entrant Tachycardias

The fast and slow pathways are anatomically distinct within the AV node, but re-join to create the Bundle of His for onward transmission to the ventricles. As ventricular depolarisation is always via the Bundle of His, the QRS will be narrow unless pre-existing bundle branch block is present.

Fig 1: AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia

In nodal re-entry tachycardias, transmission is usually antegrade in the slow pathway and retrograde in the fast pathway, as described under re-entry circuits, and is known as slow-fast. Atrial & ventricular depolarisation are simultaneous, so retrograde P waves are often hidden within the QRS complex, or occur at the end of the QRS as a pseudo r or S wave. This is the classical ECG of SVT, with a pattern of absent P waves and tachycardia.

Fig 2: AV nodal slow-fast re-entry circuit

10% of patients have fast-slow circuits, with P waves clearly visible before the QRS and a long RP interval.