This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BENCHIMOL, A. Articles by DESSER, K. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BENCHIMOL, A. Articles by DESSER, K. B.

(Stroke. 1974;5:60.)
© 1974 American Heart Association, Inc.

---

The Effects of Ventricular Tachycardia on Carotid Artery Blood Flow Velocity

ALBERTO BENCHIMOL M.D.¹; JOSE BALDI M.D.¹; KENNETH B. DESSER M.D.¹

¹ Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, Good Samaritan Hospital, 1033 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85006

Address for reprints: Alberto Benchimol, M.D., Good Samaritan Hospital, P.O. Box 2989, Phoenix, Arizona 85062

Utilizing the Doppler flowmeter catheter, right carotid blood velocity was measured during episodes of catheter-evoked and pacemaker-induced ventricular tachycardias. Such tachyarrhythmias uniformly diminished peak carotid blood velocity, which in the case of catheter-evoked episodes reduced phasic blood velocity by 50%. At driving rates greater than 140 per minute, the average peak carotid blood velocity was 25% to 50% lower during ventricular when compared with atrial pacing. There was a direct correlation between the ventricular pacing rates and the percent decline of peak carotid blood velocity. Such arrhythmia-related carotid blood velocity deficits may account for syncopal episodes in subjects so affected.

Key Words: heart rate • atrial pacing • Doppler flowmeter catheter • sinus rhythm • apexcardiography • ventricular pacing