Cross-sectional infarct edge jaggedness does not influence ventricular electrical stability in a rabbit model of late myocardial infarct healing

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that the jaggedness of the healed or healing infarct edge influences cardiac electrical stability. However, these findings have been based on histological observations rather than quantitative measurements. The aim of this study was to assess infarct jaggedness by calculating its fractal dimension and to examine how this influences cardiac electrical stability during late infarct healing in the rabbit. Using programmed electrical stimulation, it was found that the fractal dimension did not differ significantly in 19 rabbits that had inducible ventricular tachycardia and 16 that did not. We conclude from these studies in the mature rabbit that infarct edge jaggedness does not influence the ease with which ventricular tachycardia is induced during late myocardial infarct healing.