Localization of accessory pathways from the 12-lead electrocardiogram using a new algorithm.
A new algorithm (St. George's algorithm), based on the polarity and morphology of QRS complexes rather than delta waves, was developed for localizing accessory pathways to 1 of 9 sites on the atrioventricular annuli. This was compared with algorithms previously proposed by Skeberis et al (localizing to 1 of 7 sites) and Milstein et al (localizing to 1 of 4 sites). The preexcited 12-lead electrocardiograms recorded during sinus rhythm in 106 consecutive patients (including 60 retrospectively analyzed patients and 46 prospectively analyzed patients) who underwent successful radiofrequency catheter ablation of a single accessory pathway were analyzed by 3 blinded observers using all 3 algorithms. The results were compared with the actual localization of accessory pathways as derived from endocardial mapping during catheter ablation. In all 106 patients, the accuracy of the 3 algorithms for 4 sites on the atrioventricular annuli (as considered by Milstein's method) was 72%, 79%, and 92% for Milstein's, Skeberis', and St. George's algorithms, respectively. For 7 sites (as considered by Skeberis' method), the accuracy was 65% (Skeberis' algorithm) and 88% (St. George's algorithm), and for 9 sites (as considered by our method) the accuracy was 86% (St. George's algorithm). In 46 prospectively analyzed patients, the accuracy of the 3 algorithms for 4 sites was 70% (Milstein's), 67% (Skeberis'), and 87% (St. George's); for 7 sites the accuracy was 61% (Skeberis') and 85% (St. George's), and for 9 sites the accuracy was 85% (St. George's). The reproducibility of St. George's and Skeberis' methods was better than that of Milstein's method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Xie
B
B
Department of Cardiological Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
Heald
S C
SC
Bashir
Y
Y
Katritsis
D
D
Murgatroyd
F D
FD
Camm
A J
AJ
Rowland
E
E
Ward
D E
DE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery