AV-dissociation



During AV dissociation there is no link between the atrial and ventricular activity. A good example is total AV block in which the atria can have sinus rhythm and the ventricles a ventricular escape rhythm.

AV dissociation, when observed, can be very helpful in the diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia. As a wide complex tachycardia with AV dissociation is always a ventricular tachycardia. Sometimes, during ventricular tachycardia, the atria are activated retrogradely. Thus, AV dissociation is not always present in ventricular tachycardia.