Effect of cibenzoline on linking phenomenon in chronically instrumented goat model

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Ic antiarrhythmic drug cibenzoline on linking phenomenon in persistent atrial fibrillation goat model. Methods: Seven goats were instrumented with atrial electrodes.AF was maintained by an automatic atrial fibrillator.After 4 weeks of persistent AF,cibenzoline was infused until cardioversion,linking phenomenon in left atrium was studied. Results: There were (9.6±15.3)% beats belong to linking episodes before drug infusion,and they were (30.7 ±26.2)% (P<0.05)before cardioversion. Conclusion: It was found that cibenzoline increased the percentage of linked beats during AF.