Do intramural virtual electrodes facilitate successful defibrillation?
Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand. d.hooks@auckland.ac.nz INTRODUCTION: Recent computer model and experimental studies have suggested that microscopic intramural collagenous planes may facilitate successful defibrillation through the generation of shock-induced virtual electrodes deep within the ventricular wall. Evidence supporting the existence of intramural virtual electrodes has been drawn from several recent studies, which map shock-induced membrane potential (Vm) over the cut transmural surface of dissected segments of porcine left ventricle (LV). The artificially created transmural boundary in these experiments is impermeable to intracellular current. It is not known how this constraint limits the interpretation of these experiments in terms of the shock response of the intact ventricle. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study uses a realistic 3D computer model of LV myocardium to aid experimental interpretation. The model incorporates a microstructural descr
