Ischemia-reperfusion destabilizes rhythmicity in immature atrioventricular pacemakers: A predisposing factor for postoperative arrhythmias in neonate rabbits

Neonatal pacemaker cells and whole hearts demonstrate a susceptibility to I/R insults resulting in alterations in automaticity, which may predispose neonates to postoperative arrhythmias such as junctional ectopic tachycardia and atrioventricular block.