Electrophysiologic Characteristics (electrophysiologic + characteristic)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Surface Electrocardiographic Patterns and Electrophysiologic Characteristics of Atrial Flutter Following Modified Radiofrequency MAZE Procedures

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
JOSEPH G. AKAR M.D., Ph.D.
Introduction: The radiofrequency MAZE is becoming a common adjunct to cardiac surgery in patients with atrial fibrillation. While a variety of postoperative arrhythmias have been described following the original Cox-MAZE III procedure, the electrophysiological characteristics and surgical substrate of post-radiofrequency MAZE flutter have not been correlated. We sought to determine the location, ECG patterns, and electrophysiological characteristics of post-radiofrequency MAZE atrial flutter. Methods: Nine consecutive patients with post-radiofrequency MAZE flutter presented for catheter ablation 9 ± 10 months after surgery. Results: Only one patient (11%) had an ECG appearance consistent with typical isthmus-dependent right atrial (RA) flutter. However, on electrophysiological study, 3/9 patients (33%) had typical right counter-clockwise flutter entrained from the cavo-tricuspid isthmus, despite description of surgical isthmus ablation. Six patients (67%) had left atrial (LA) circuits. These involved the mitral annulus in 5/6 cases (83%) despite description of surgical mitral isthmus ablation in the majority (60%). LA flutters had a shorter cycle length compared with RA flutters (253 ± 39 msec and 332 ± 63 msec respectively, P < 0.05). After a mean of 8 ± 4 months following ablation, 8/9 patients (89%) were in sinus rhythm. Conclusion: Up to one-third of post-radiofrequency MAZE circuits are typical isthmus-dependent RA flutters, despite a highly atypical surface ECG morphology. Therefore, diagnostic electrophysiological studies should commence with entrainment at the cavo-tricuspid isthmus in order to exclude typical flutter, regardless of the surface ECG appearance. Incomplete surgical lesions at the mitral and cavo-tricuspid isthmus likely predispose to the development of post-radiofrequency MAZE flutter. [source]


Electrocardiographic and Electrophysiologic Characteristics of Midseptal Accessory Pathways

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
SHIH-LING CHANG M.D.
Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic characteristics of right midseptal (RMS) and left midseptal (LMS) accessory pathways (APs), and to develop a stepwise algorithm to differentiate RMS from LMS APs. Methods and Results: From May 1989 to February 2004, 1591 patients with AP-mediated tachyarrhythmia underwent RF catheter ablation in this institution, and 38 (2.4%) patients had MS APs. The delta wave and precordial QRS transition during sinus rhythm, retrograde P wave during orthodromic tachycardia, and electrophysiologic characteristic and catheter ablation in 30 patients with RMS APs and 8 patients with LMS APs were analyzed. There was no significant difference in electrophysiologic characteristics and catheter ablation between RMS and LMS APs. The polarity of retrograde P wave during orthodromic tachycardia also showed no statistical difference between patients with RMS and LMS APs. The delta wave polarity was positive in leads I, aVL, and V3 to V6 in patients with RMS and LMS APs. Patients with LMS APs had a higher incidence of biphasic delta wave in lead V1 than patients with RMS APs (80% vs. 15%, P = 0.012). The distributions of precordial QRS transition were different between RMS APs (leads V2; n = 10, V3; n = 7 and V4; n = 3) and LMS APs (leads V1; n = 1 and V2; n = 4) (P = 0.03). The combination of a delta negative wave in lead V1 or precordial QRS transition in lead V3 or V4 had a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value of 95%, and negative predictive value of 66% in predicting an RMS AP. Conclusions: Delta wave polarity in lead V1 and precordial QRS transition may differentiate RMS and LMS APs. [source]


Electrophysiologic Characteristics and Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Children with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
PI-CHANG LEE
Background: The majority of cardiac arrhythmias in children are supraventricular tachycardia, which is mainly related to an accessory pathway (AP)-mediated reentry mechanism. The investigation for Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome in adults is numerous, but there is only limited information for children. This study was designed to evaluate the specific electrophysiologic characteristics and the outcome of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation in children with WPW syndrome. Methods: From December 1989 to August 2005, a total of 142 children and 1,219 adults with atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) who underwent ablation at our institution were included. We compared the clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics between children and adults with WPW syndrome. Results: The incidence of intermittent WPW syndrome was higher in children (7% vs 3%, P=0.025). There was a higher occurrence of rapid atrial pacing needed to induce tachycardia in children (67% vs 53%, P=0.02). However, atrial fibrillation (AF) occurred more commonly in adult patients (28% vs 16%, P = 0.003). The pediatric patients had a higher incidence of multiple pathways (5% vs 1%, P < 0.001). Both the onset and duration of symptoms were significantly shorter in the pediatric patients. The antegrade 1:1 AP conduction pacing cycle length (CL) and antegrade AP effective refractory period (ERP) in children were much shorter than those in adults with manifest WPW syndrome. Furthermore, the retrograde 1:1 AP conduction pacing CL and retrograde AP ERP in children were also shorter than those in adults. The antegrade 1:1 atrioventricular (AV) node conduction pacing CL, AV nodal ERP, and the CL of the tachycardia were all shorter in the pediatric patients. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the difference in the electrophysiologic characteristics of APs and the AV node between pediatric and adult patients. RF catheter ablation was a safe and effective method to manage children with WPW syndrome. [source]


Electrophysiologic Characteristics of Wide QRS Complexes during Pharmacologic Termination of Sustained Supraventricular Tachycardias with Verapamil and Adenosine: Observations from Electrophysiologic Study

ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Cengizhan Türko, lu M.D.
Background: In this study we evaluate wide QRS complexes observed during pharmacologic termination of supraventricular tachycardias. Methods: Patients with supraventricular tachycardia, undergoing electrophysiologic study were enrolled. 12 mg of adenosine or 10 mg of verapamil were administered during tachycardia, under continuous monitoring of intaracardiac and surface electrocardiograms. Electrocardiographic features of ventricular ectopy were noted. Results: Seventy-four patients were enrolled. 48 patients were randomized to adenosine and 26 to verapamil. Five different appearance patterns of ventricular ectopy were observed during termination of tachycardias. All wide QRS complexes were of ventricular origin and all of them were observed during the termination of tachycardia. Adenosine more frequently resulted in appearance of ventricular beats (15.4% vs 41.7%, P = 0.003), and this was more frequently observed in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. Patients with ventricular beats were younger than those without, in both, verapamil (47.5 ± 15.6 vs 65.0 ± 8.8 years, P = 0.04) and adenosine (40.9 ± 13.8 vs 49.7 ± 16.8, P = 0.03) groups. Left bundle branch block (LBBB)/superior axis morphology was most frequent morphology in adenosine group (55%). Two of 4 patients in verapamil group displayed LBBB/inferior axis QRS morphology and another 2 patients displayed LBBB/superior axis morphology. Conclusions: Noncatheter induced, five different appearance patterns and four distinct morphologies of ventricular origin were observed. Most of them do not directly terminate tachycardia, but are associated with its termination and are not observed in ongoing tachycardia. [source]


Electrophysiologic characteristics and radiofrequency ablation of focal atrial tachycardia arising from para-Hisian region

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 3 2007
Y. Zhou
Summary This study describes the electrophysiologic characteristics and radiofrequency ablation of focal atrial tachycardia (AT) arising from para-Hisian region in 14 (6.0%) patients of a consecutive series of 224 patients patients. Inverted or biphasic P wave in V1 and uncharacteristic P wave in inferior leads were observed during tachycardia, suggesting that there isn't a characteristic P-wave morphology for para-Hisian AT. During electrophysiological study, tachycardia could be induced with programmed atrial extrastimuli in 11 patients while a spontaneous onset and offset with ,warm-up and cool-down' phenomenon were seen in other three patients. Moreover, the tachycardias were sensitive to intravenous administration of adenosine triphosphate in all patients. On the basis of these findings, the mechanism is suggestive of triggered activity or micro-reentry, but automaticity cannot be conclusively excluded. Radiofrequency energy was delivered to the earliest site of atrial activation during AT. Ablating energy was carefully titrated, starting at 5 W and increasing gradually upto a maximum of 40 W, to achieve the ceasing of tachycardia. The long-term outcome was a 100% success rate in these 14 patients and there were no irreversible complications associated with ablation. Thus, the mapping and ablation of focal AT arising from para-Hisian region is safe and effective, delivery of radiofrequency energy in a titrated manner and continuous monitoring of atrioventricular (AV) conduction advocated to minimise the risk of damage to the anterograde AV conduction. [source]


Electrocardiographic and Electrophysiologic Characteristics of Midseptal Accessory Pathways

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
SHIH-LING CHANG M.D.
Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic characteristics of right midseptal (RMS) and left midseptal (LMS) accessory pathways (APs), and to develop a stepwise algorithm to differentiate RMS from LMS APs. Methods and Results: From May 1989 to February 2004, 1591 patients with AP-mediated tachyarrhythmia underwent RF catheter ablation in this institution, and 38 (2.4%) patients had MS APs. The delta wave and precordial QRS transition during sinus rhythm, retrograde P wave during orthodromic tachycardia, and electrophysiologic characteristic and catheter ablation in 30 patients with RMS APs and 8 patients with LMS APs were analyzed. There was no significant difference in electrophysiologic characteristics and catheter ablation between RMS and LMS APs. The polarity of retrograde P wave during orthodromic tachycardia also showed no statistical difference between patients with RMS and LMS APs. The delta wave polarity was positive in leads I, aVL, and V3 to V6 in patients with RMS and LMS APs. Patients with LMS APs had a higher incidence of biphasic delta wave in lead V1 than patients with RMS APs (80% vs. 15%, P = 0.012). The distributions of precordial QRS transition were different between RMS APs (leads V2; n = 10, V3; n = 7 and V4; n = 3) and LMS APs (leads V1; n = 1 and V2; n = 4) (P = 0.03). The combination of a delta negative wave in lead V1 or precordial QRS transition in lead V3 or V4 had a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value of 95%, and negative predictive value of 66% in predicting an RMS AP. Conclusions: Delta wave polarity in lead V1 and precordial QRS transition may differentiate RMS and LMS APs. [source]


Electrophysiologic characteristics and radiofrequency ablation of focal atrial tachycardia arising from para-Hisian region

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 3 2007
Y. Zhou
Summary This study describes the electrophysiologic characteristics and radiofrequency ablation of focal atrial tachycardia (AT) arising from para-Hisian region in 14 (6.0%) patients of a consecutive series of 224 patients patients. Inverted or biphasic P wave in V1 and uncharacteristic P wave in inferior leads were observed during tachycardia, suggesting that there isn't a characteristic P-wave morphology for para-Hisian AT. During electrophysiological study, tachycardia could be induced with programmed atrial extrastimuli in 11 patients while a spontaneous onset and offset with ,warm-up and cool-down' phenomenon were seen in other three patients. Moreover, the tachycardias were sensitive to intravenous administration of adenosine triphosphate in all patients. On the basis of these findings, the mechanism is suggestive of triggered activity or micro-reentry, but automaticity cannot be conclusively excluded. Radiofrequency energy was delivered to the earliest site of atrial activation during AT. Ablating energy was carefully titrated, starting at 5 W and increasing gradually upto a maximum of 40 W, to achieve the ceasing of tachycardia. The long-term outcome was a 100% success rate in these 14 patients and there were no irreversible complications associated with ablation. Thus, the mapping and ablation of focal AT arising from para-Hisian region is safe and effective, delivery of radiofrequency energy in a titrated manner and continuous monitoring of atrioventricular (AV) conduction advocated to minimise the risk of damage to the anterograde AV conduction. [source]


Focal Atrial Tachycardia Originating from the Left Atrial Appendage: Electrocardiographic and Electrophysiologic Characterization and Long-Term Outcomes of Radiofrequency Ablation

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
WANG YUN-LONG M.D.
Introduction: This study sought to investigate electrophysiologic characteristics and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with focal atrial tachycardia (AT) arising from the left atrial appendage (LAA). Methods: This study included seven patients undergoing RFA with focal AT. Activation mapping was performed during tachycardia to identify an earlier activation in the left atria and the LAA. The atrial appendage angiography was performed to identify the origin in the LAA before and after RFA. Results: AT occurred spontaneously or was induced by isoproterenol infusion rather than programmed extrastimulation and burst atrial pacing in any patient. The tachycardia demonstrated a characteristic P-wave morphology and endocardial activation pattern. The P wave was highly positive in inferior leads in all patients. Lead V1 showed upright or biphasic (±) component in all patients. Lead V2,V6 showed an isoelectric component in five patients or an upright component with low amplitude (<0.1 mV) in two patients. Earliest endocardial activity occurred at the distal coronary sinus (CS) ahead of P wave in all seven patients. Mean tachycardia cycle length was 381 ± 34 msec and the earliest endocardial activation at the successful RFA site occurred 42.3 ± 9.6 msec before the onset of P wave. RFA was acutely successful in all seven patients. Long-term success was achieved in seven of the seven over a mean follow-up of 24 ± 5 months. Conclusions: The LAA is an uncommon site of origin for focal AT (3%). There were consistent P-wave morphology and endocardial activation associated with this type of AT. The LAA focal ablation is safe and effective. Long-term success was achieved with focal ablation in all patients. [source]


Electrocardiographic and Electrophysiologic Characteristics of Midseptal Accessory Pathways

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
SHIH-LING CHANG M.D.
Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic characteristics of right midseptal (RMS) and left midseptal (LMS) accessory pathways (APs), and to develop a stepwise algorithm to differentiate RMS from LMS APs. Methods and Results: From May 1989 to February 2004, 1591 patients with AP-mediated tachyarrhythmia underwent RF catheter ablation in this institution, and 38 (2.4%) patients had MS APs. The delta wave and precordial QRS transition during sinus rhythm, retrograde P wave during orthodromic tachycardia, and electrophysiologic characteristic and catheter ablation in 30 patients with RMS APs and 8 patients with LMS APs were analyzed. There was no significant difference in electrophysiologic characteristics and catheter ablation between RMS and LMS APs. The polarity of retrograde P wave during orthodromic tachycardia also showed no statistical difference between patients with RMS and LMS APs. The delta wave polarity was positive in leads I, aVL, and V3 to V6 in patients with RMS and LMS APs. Patients with LMS APs had a higher incidence of biphasic delta wave in lead V1 than patients with RMS APs (80% vs. 15%, P = 0.012). The distributions of precordial QRS transition were different between RMS APs (leads V2; n = 10, V3; n = 7 and V4; n = 3) and LMS APs (leads V1; n = 1 and V2; n = 4) (P = 0.03). The combination of a delta negative wave in lead V1 or precordial QRS transition in lead V3 or V4 had a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value of 95%, and negative predictive value of 66% in predicting an RMS AP. Conclusions: Delta wave polarity in lead V1 and precordial QRS transition may differentiate RMS and LMS APs. [source]


Electrophysiologic Deterioration After One-Minute Fibrillation Increases Relative Biphasic Defibrillation Efficacy

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2000
OSCAR H. TOVAR M.D.
Biphasic Shocks and One-Minute Fibrillation. Introduction: The probability of survival decreases to 70% after 2 minutes of ventricular fibriltation. Bipliasic shocks are more effective than monophasic shocks in terminating short-duration (<30 sec) ventricular fibrillation. We tested the hypotheses that developing ischemia changes the electrophysiologic characteristics of fibrillation and that the relative efficacy of biphasic shocks increases as electrophysiologic characteristics deteriorate. Methods and Results: Monophasic (12 msec) and biphasic (6/6 msec) shocks (1 to 4 A) were tested in random order in isolated rabbit hearts after 1-minute ischemic fibrillation. Monophasic action potentials showed only a sporadic occurrence of electrical diastole after 5 seconds of fibrillation (24% of action potentials in the right ventricle and 18% in the left ventricle). After 60 seconds of fibrillation, diastole (17.83 ± 1.14 msec in the right ventricle and 21.52 ± 1.16 msec in the left ventricle) appeared after almost every action potential (P < 0.0001 compared with 5 sec), despite a lack of change in fibrillation cycle length and dominant frequency. Monophasie I50 was 2.89 A, and biphasic I50 was 1.4 A (77% reduction in energy). Normalized curve width decreased 28%. Retrospective analysis showed that shocks delivered early in the fibrillation action potential bad a greater probability of succeeding (89%) than shocks delivered late (30%; P < 0.001). Conclusion: After l-minute ischemic fibrillation, diastolic intervals occur during fibrillation. Therefore, defibrillation shocks have an approximately 29% probability of interacting with the fibrillation action potential during diastole. At this time, biphasic shocks produced a more deterministic defibrillation threshold and became even more efficacious (I50B/M = 0.48) than at short fibrillation durations (I50 B/M = 0.7). [source]


Block of IKs Does Not Induce Early Afterdepolarization Activity but Promotes ,-Adrenergic Agonist-Induced Delayed Afterdepolarization Activity

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000
ALEXANDER BURASHNTKOV Ph.D.
Block of IK Does Not Induce EADs.Introduction: An early afterdepolarization (EAD)-induced triggered heat is thought to precipitate torsade de pointes (TdP) in the long QT syndrome (LQTS). Previous studies demonstrated the development of EAD activity and dispersion of repolarization under LQT2 (reduced IKr) and LQT3 (augmented late INa). but not LQTl (reduced IKs), conditions. The present study examines these electrophysiologic characteristics during IKs block. Methods and Results: Canine epicardial (Epi), M, and endocardial (Endo) tissues and Purkinje fibers isolated from the canine left ventricle were studied using standard microelectrode recording techniques. The IKs blocker chromanol 293B (293B, 30 ,M), produced a homogeneous rate-independent prolongation of action potential duration (APD) in Epi, M, and Endo, but little to no APD prolongation in Purkinje. Chromanol 293B I to 30 ,M failed to induce EADs or delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) in any of the four tissue types. Isoproterenol (ISO, 0.1 to 1.0 ,M) in the presence of 293B 30 ,M significantly prolonged the APD of the M cell (basic cycle length , sec), abbreviated that of Purkinje, and caused little change in that of Epi and Endo. The combination of 293B 30 ,M and ISO 0.2 ,M did not induce EADs in any of the four tissue types, but produced DAD activity in 4 of 8 Epi, 7 of 10 M cells, and 3 of 8 Endo. Conclusion: Our results indicate that IKs block alone or in combination with ,-adrenergic stimulation does not induce EADs in any of the four canine ventricular tissue types, but that the combination of the two induces DADs as well as accentuated dispersion of repolarization. [source]


Analysis of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia with Variable Ventriculoatrial Block: Characteristics of the Upper Common Pathway

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
KENJI MORIHISA M.D.
Background: The precise nature of the upper turnaround part of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is not entirely understood. Methods: In nine patients with AVNRT accompanied by variable ventriculoatrial (VA) conduction block, we examined the electrophysiologic characteristics of its upper common pathway. Results: Tachycardia was induced by atrial burst and/or extrastimulus followed by atrial-His jump, and the earliest atrial electrogram was observed at the His bundle site in all patients. Twelve incidents of VA block: Wenckebach VA block (n = 7), 2:1 VA block (n = 4), and intermittent (n = 1) were observed. In two of seven Wenckebach VA block, the retrograde earliest atrial activation site shifted from the His bundle site to coronary sinus ostium just before VA block. Prolongation of His-His interval occurred during VA block in 11 of 12 incidents. After isoproterenol administration, 1:1 VA conduction resumed in all patients. Catheter ablation at the right inferoparaseptum eliminated antegrade slow pathway conduction and rendered AVNRT noninducible in all patients. Conclusion: Selective elimination of the slow pathway conduction at the inferoparaseptal right atrium may suggest that the subatrial tissue linking the retrograde fast and antegrade slow pathways forms the upper common pathway in AVNRT with VA block. [source]


Electrophysiologic Characteristics and Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Children with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
PI-CHANG LEE
Background: The majority of cardiac arrhythmias in children are supraventricular tachycardia, which is mainly related to an accessory pathway (AP)-mediated reentry mechanism. The investigation for Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome in adults is numerous, but there is only limited information for children. This study was designed to evaluate the specific electrophysiologic characteristics and the outcome of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation in children with WPW syndrome. Methods: From December 1989 to August 2005, a total of 142 children and 1,219 adults with atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) who underwent ablation at our institution were included. We compared the clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics between children and adults with WPW syndrome. Results: The incidence of intermittent WPW syndrome was higher in children (7% vs 3%, P=0.025). There was a higher occurrence of rapid atrial pacing needed to induce tachycardia in children (67% vs 53%, P=0.02). However, atrial fibrillation (AF) occurred more commonly in adult patients (28% vs 16%, P = 0.003). The pediatric patients had a higher incidence of multiple pathways (5% vs 1%, P < 0.001). Both the onset and duration of symptoms were significantly shorter in the pediatric patients. The antegrade 1:1 AP conduction pacing cycle length (CL) and antegrade AP effective refractory period (ERP) in children were much shorter than those in adults with manifest WPW syndrome. Furthermore, the retrograde 1:1 AP conduction pacing CL and retrograde AP ERP in children were also shorter than those in adults. The antegrade 1:1 atrioventricular (AV) node conduction pacing CL, AV nodal ERP, and the CL of the tachycardia were all shorter in the pediatric patients. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the difference in the electrophysiologic characteristics of APs and the AV node between pediatric and adult patients. RF catheter ablation was a safe and effective method to manage children with WPW syndrome. [source]


P-Wave Dispersion: A Novel Predictor of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
Polychronis E. Dilaveris M.D.
Background: The prolongation of intraatrial and interatrial conduction time and the inhomogeneous propagation of sinus impulses are well known electrophysiologic characteristics in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Previous studies have demonstrated that individuals with a clinical history of paroxysmal AF show a significantly increased P-wave duration in 12-lead surface electrocardiograms (ECG) and signal-averaged ECG recordings. Methods: The inhomogeneous and discontinuous atrial conduction in patients with paroxysmal AF has recently been studied with a new ECG index, P-wave dispersion. P-wave dispersion is defined as the difference between the longest and the shortest P-wave duration recorded from multiple different surface ECG leads. Up to now the most extensive clinical evaluation of P-wave dispersion has been performed in the assessment of the risk for AF in patients without apparent heart disease, in hypertensives, in patients with coronary artery disease and in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. P-wave dispersion has proven to be a sensitive and specific ECG predictor of AF in the various clinical settings. However, no electrophysiologic study has proven up to now the suspected relationship between the dispersion in the atrial conduction times and P-wave dispersion. The methodology used for the calculation of P-wave dispersion is not standardized and more efforts to improve the reliability and reproducibility of P-wave dispersion measurements are needed. Conclusions: P-wave dispersion constitutes a recent contribution to the field of noninvasive electrocardiology and seems to be quite promising in the field of AF prediction. A.N.E. 2001;6(2):159,165 [source]