Atrial spiral wave drifting under applied spatial temperature gradients

Spiral wave drifting and meandering are known measures for cardiac instability and arrhythmogenesis. This study was aimed to analyze spiral wave drifting due to temperature heterogeneity that is applied artificially. Our hypothesis is that spatial temperature gradients (STGs) will cause spatial excitability heterogeneity, which in turn will affect the spiral waves´ dynamics. This may help to detect, map and distinguish cardiac spiral waves from ectopic foci, and improve the management of arrhythmias. Cardiac electrical conduction was simulated in 2D tissue models and stable rotors were initiated. The effect of temperature on the rate constants of gating variables was incorporated. When linear STG was applied, spiral waves drifted diagonally towards the colder region of the tissue. We conclude that by artificially employing local temperature heterogeneity, controlled spiral wave can be established allowing potential identifying this arrhythmia driver and tracking its trajectory.