Flecainide-induced arrhythmia in canine ventricular epicardium. Phase 2 reentry?

Abstract

Our data suggest that the presence of a prominent Ito in epicardium contributes the development of marked electrical heterogeneity in the ventricle after exposure to flecainide. Flecainide-induced dispersion of repolarization, especially when accompanied by prominent conduction delays, results in extrasystolic activity via a mechanism that we have termed "phase 2 reentry." Our results also suggest a role for Ito blockers in the treatment of reentrant arrhythmias.