title: [Ventricular late potentials--methods and clinical importance].
abstract: Ventricular late potentials are due to regionally depressed inhomogenous conduction, mainly in the border zone of a previous myocardial infarction. They can be recorded noninvasively using high-resolution signal-averaging techniques. They are almost never detectable in normals, whereas they represent a frequent finding in postmyocardial infarction patients. The presence of ventricular late potentials after previous myocardial infarction predicts the subsequent occurrence of hemodynamically severe sustained ventricular tachycardia and/or sudden cardiac death. Their predictive significance can be increased by combining signal-averaging with long-term ECG recording and estimates of left-ventricular ejection fraction. However, despite recent major improvements in identification of patients at risk, there is still a need for an effective mode of prevention of serious ventricular tachyarrhythmias after myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Breithardt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fetsch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shenasa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borggrefe
mesh_terms: D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000503:physiopathology*
vernacular_title: Ventrikuläre Spätpotentiale--Methodik und klinische Bedeutung.