Background: The spread of activation between the right atrium (RA) and left atrium (LA), particularly along the right and left aspects of the interatrial septum, is not clear.
Methods and results: Basket-shaped catheters carrying 64 electrodes were deployed into both the RA and LA of 10 dogs. Position and orientation of the baskets were determined by fluoroscopy and echocardiography. Basket unipolar electrograms were simultaneously recorded in each dog during sinus rhythm, right ventricular pacing, and pacing of the right septum through the basket in the superior and inferior regions. Isochrone maps depicting all aspects of the atria, including the septum, were compared. During sinus rhythm and superior right septal pacing, wave fronts propagated predominantly from superior to inferior regions on both the right and left septum. However, activation of the left septum was delayed compared with the right septum. During right ventricular pacing and inferior right septal pacing, activation of the septum was discordant; 1 wave front propagated rapidly on the right septum from inferior to superior regions, whereas 2 opposing wave fronts originated on the left septum in both the superior and inferior regions. The left septum was activated predominantly by the superior wave front. Activation of the left septum was completed in a significantly shorter time during pacing of the right septum in the inferior region compared with the superior region.
Conclusions: In dogs, activation of the right and left aspects of the interatrial septum is discordant. Electrical connections are present between the RA and LA in regions superior as well as inferior to the septum.