[Hidden electric phenomena].

Concealed electrical phenomena are activations which penetrate the specialised tissue incompletely, which do not have a direct electrical effect but which usually affect the conduction of the following normal impulse. The phenomena are extremely common. They arise physiologically in the node of Aschoff Tawara and express the relationship between flutter waves and their propagation to the ventricle. Any extrasystole or ectopic rhythm may give rise to these phenomena and modify conduction in the anterograde or retrograde direction if the ectopic rhythm is ventricular, by slowing the rate but also, in some cases, by paradoxically improving it. In addition, some reciprocating nodal tachycardias are due to a concealed bundle of Kent invisible in sinus rhythm, the presence of which may be suspected by the ECG appearances of the reciprocating tachycardia (negative P wave in lead 1, phenomenon of delaying bundle branch block or simply the auriculogram after the ventriculogram.