Introduction to the Congenital Heart Defects: Anatomy of the Conduction System

Card Electrophysiol Clin. 2017 Jun;9(2):167-175. doi: 10.1016/j.ccep.2017.02.001. Epub 2017 Mar 14.

Abstract

The position and course of the conduction system in congenital heart disease are intricately tied to the underlying congenital malformation. Although only subtle differences exist between the anatomy of the conduction axis for simple congenital heart lesions and normal anatomy, almost every patient with congenital heart disease harbors some important anatomic variation. This article summarizes the body of literature by retaining original classical concepts and by attempting to translate the available knowledge into useful points for the congenital heart disease specialist. This discussion spans the entire spectrum of simple to complex congenital heart disease.

Keywords: AV node; Atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia; Conduction system; Congenital heart disease; Heart block; Heterotaxy syndrome; His-Purkinje system; Supraventricular tachycardia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Heart Block
  • Heart Conduction System* / physiology
  • Heart Conduction System* / physiopathology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital* / pathology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital* / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Tachycardia, Supraventricular