compensatory pause
Last edited 06/2020
This is the duration of the pause after an extrasystole:
- a complete compensatory pause occurs when the sum of the coupling interval and the compensatory pause is equal to twice the sinus cycle length. It is characteristic of a ventricular ectopic which fails to conduct retrogradely to the atria, hence leaving the sinus node undisturbed.
- an incomplete compensatory pause arises if the sinus node is discharged early by the ectopic depolarisation.