Effect of the ectopic beats location on vulnerability to reentries in a three dimensional realistic model of human atria

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. AF induces changes in atrial properties (atrial remodelling) that helps to perpetuate it. Recent studies have shown that ectopic activity in the pulmonary veins can trigger reentrant mechanisms and lead to AF. However, the influence of ectopic foci location on the likelihood of triggering reentries and AF is not well known. In this work we study the effect of the ectopic beats location on vulnerability to reentries. To carry out the study, the effects of electrical remodelling were incorporated in an atrial cell model and integrated in a realistic three-dimensional (3D) model of human atria. An ectopic beat was applied at four different locations in the left atrium. Pseudo-unipolar electrograms in different regions and spectral analysis of the signals obtained were calculated. The results show the great influence of the ectopic activity location on the vulnerability to reentries.