What is AIVR?

What is AIVR?

AIVR is short for accelerated idoventricular rhythm. When the normal pacemaker of the heart (sinus node) slows down, subsidiary pacemakers can take over. Usually it it the atrioventricular node which takes over. Rarely if the atrioventricular node is disease, an idioventricular rhythm can arise (rhythm originating from the ventricle). Idioventricular rhythm usually has a slow rate of 20 to 40 per minute. When a rhythm originating from the ventricle has a faster rate around 100 or more, it is known as accelerated idioventricular rhythm. It usually occurs in the setting of a myocardial infarction (heart attack), especially after opening up of the blocked coronary artery (blood vessel supplying oxygenated blood to the heart). The opening up can occur either spontaneously or after medications (thrombolytic therapy – clot dissolving medication). Clots can also be mechanically removed by thrombus aspiration during a primary angioplasty procedure.