Wednesday, December 27, 2006

A master teacher discusses the importance of the electrocardiographic P wave

David Spodick, M.D., professor of Medicine and Cardiology at the University of Massachusetts, comments on under appreciation of the electrocardiographic P wave in Internal Medicine World Report, making the following points:

  • Analysis of the P wave is often neglected in discussions on electrocardiography.
  • Most P wave abnormalities are defined by P wave duration, the upper limit of which is 100ms.
  • P wave duration in excess of 100ms constitutes atrial conduction block, specifically intra-atrial or, more likely, inter-atrial block.
  • Atrial conduction blocks indicate increased risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke, and may reflect left ventricular dysfunction.

Background:

Review by Spodick in Mayo Clinic Proceedings on this subject.

Previous notes from Dr. RW on this subject.

No comments: