ECG Library
Dual Sinus Nodes - Heart Transplant ECG
ECG Findings:
4. Left Anterior Fascicular Block
5. ST-T Wave Abnormality - Consider Ischemia
When the patient's heart was removed, a portion of the right atrium was left behind including the native sinoatrial node (SA node). A new heart was implanted which also included a SA node. The end result is two P waves both of sinus morphology, however at different rates. Interestingly, only the transplanted SA nodal activity is able to conduct to the ventricles since the surgical anastomotic site creates an electrical block not allowing the native SA node to depolarize the transplanted atrium and thus it is not able to conduct to the transplanted ventricles.