Comparison of the amplitude of the P-wave from intracardiac electrocardiogram obtained by means of a central venous catheter filled with saline solution to that obtained via esophageal electrocardiogram.
Recognition of the P wave is important for the correct characterization of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. When the P wave is difficult to identify on standard electrocardiography (SECG), either esophageal electrocardiography (EECG) or intracardiac electrocardiography (IC-ECG), central venous catheter may be used. The feasibility of these methods has already been demonstrated, but there is no published study comparing them. This study compared the amplitude of the P wave obtained by IC-ECG with those of the P waves obtained by EECG and SECG. SECG, EECG, and IC-ECG were performed on each patient. IC-ECG and EECG made it possible to register P waves larger than registered by SECG (p <0.00001). The difference between the largest P waves obtained with IC-ECG (5.93 +/- 3.56 mm) and EECG (4.67 +/- 2.16 mm) was not statistically significant (p = 0.1953). In conclusion, IC-ECG is easy to perform and magnifies the P wave at least as effectively as EECG.
Benzadón
Mariano Noel
MN
Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. marianobenzadon@yahoo.com.ar <marianobenzadon@yahoo.com.ar>
Ortega
Daniel Felipe
DF
Thierer
Jorge Mario
JM
Torcivia
Ricardo Adolfo Spampinato
RA
Aldunate
Leandro
L
de Lima
Alberto Enrique Alves
AE
Navia
Daniel
D
Dorsa
Alberto
A
Rossi
Adriana
A
Trivi
Marcelo
M
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic
D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic