Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardias: Potential Role of the Septal Fascicle

Ventricular tachycardias involving the fascicular system are amongst the most challenging and intriguing arrhythmias for cardiac electrophysiologists. Although some of the more common forms have been recognized clinically for decades, other variants continue to be characterized. Moreover, considerable uncertainty persists to date with regards to the mechanisms underpinning these arrhythmias. In this state-of-the-art review, we discuss the seminal historical and contemporary observations that have collectively advanced our understanding of fascicular ventricular tachycardias. From this base, we canvas the basic and clinical evidence supporting a potential role for the septal fascicular network and propose a new schema hypothesizing involvement of this fascicle. Although we focus primarily on the most common left posterior fascicular ventricular tachycardia, our discussion and proposal have mechanistic and therapeutic implications for the spectrum of fascicular arrhythmias.

Recognizing Belhassen Ventricular Tachycardia and Preventing Its Misinterpretation as Supraventricular Tachycardia: An Unusual Case Report

Belhassen ventricular tachycardia (BVT), also known as verapamil-sensitive ventricular tachycardia, is an infrequent finding that can be fatal unless recognized early and treated in a prompt manner. Most patients have insignificant presentation suggestive of the disease, but on electrocardiography (EKG), BVT is characterized by a complete right branch block (RBB) and a right axis deviation (RAD). In this case report, we describe an unusual case of a 35-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency department (ED) complaining of acute palpitations of two-hour duration; subsequent diagnostic testing revealed BVT in the patient.