Time Domain and Spectral Analysis of Electrograms in Man During Regular Ventricular Activity and Ventricular Fibrillation

Electrogram signals from intramyocardially placed wire electrodes were recorded in 24 open heart surgery patients during regular heart activity (RHA) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). Time domain parameters, maximal amplitudes (AMAX, UMAX), maximal derivatives (DMAX, SMAX), and power spectra in the frequency region up to 100 Hz were analyzed off-line on a digital computer. DMAX, AMAX, SMAX, and UMAX were significantly lower postoperatively than during the operation in RHA, median values reduced by 37, 23, 54, and 50 percent. Corresponding reductions in median values of 64, 39, 58, and 30 percent occurred in the transition from RHA to VF during the operation (peroperatively).