Systematic observation‐based diagnosis of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia with a bystander concealed nodoventricular pathway

Abstract Background This study aimed to establish a systematic method for diagnosing atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) with a bystander concealed nodoventricular pathway (cNVP). Methods We analyzed 13 cases of AVNRT with a bystander cNVP, 11 connected to the slow pathway (cNVP‐SP) and two to the fast pathway (cNVP‐FP), along with two cases of cNVP‐related orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia (ORT). Results The diagnostic process was summarized in three steps. Step 1 was identification of the presence of an accessory pathway by resetting the tachycardia with delay (n = 9) and termination without atrial capture (n = 4) immediately after delivery of a His‐refractory premature ventricular contraction (PVC). Step 2 was exclusion of ORT by atrio‐His block during the tachycardia (n = 4), disappearance of the reset phenomenon after the early PVC (n = 7), or dissociation of His from the tachycardia during ventricular overdrive pacing (n = 1). Moreover, tachycardia reset/termination without the atrial capture (n = 2/2) 1 cycle after the His‐refractory PVC was specifically diagnostic. Exceptionally, the disappearance of the reset phenomenon was also observed in the two cNVP‐ORTs. Step 3 was verification of the AVN as the cNVP insertion site, evidenced by an atrial reset/block preceding the His reset/block in fast–slow AVNRT with a cNVP‐SP and slow–fast AVNRT with a cNVP‐FP or His reset preceding the atrial reset in slow–fast AVNRT with a cNVP‐SP. Conclusion AVNRT with a bystander cNVP can be diagnosed in the three steps with few exceptions. Notably, tachycardia reset/termination without atrial capture one cycle after delivery of a His‐refractory PVC is specifically diagnostic.