Effect of acute ventricular dilatation on fibrillation thresholds in the isolated rabbit heart.

We examined the effects of ventricular dilatation on epicardial refractoriness and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) in the isolated, retrograde-perfused rabbit heart. Ventricular size was modified by acutely changing the volume of a fluid-filled balloon secured within either the left or right ventricle. Left ventricular dilatation (to an end-diastolic pressure of 30-38 mmHg) significantly decreased left ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) and myocardial wavelength (calculated as ERP x conduction velocity). Left VFT (determined by scanning the vulnerable period with a train of pulses) decreased from 6.4 +/- 0.9 to 4.4 +/- 0.5 mA; P < 0.01) with left but not right ventricular dilatation. Right ventricular dilatation was associated with a decrease in the right ventricular ERP and myocardial wavelength, and right VFT decreased from 13.6 +/- 1.8 to 4.1 +/- 0.3 mA (P < 0.01). Changes in VFT correlated with the decrease in local refractoriness and shortening of local excitation wavelength.