P wave polarity during pacing in pulmonary veins

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology : an International Journal of Arrhythmias and Pacing
H F TseFred Morady

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated that premature depolarizations that trigger atrial fibrillation often arise in pulmonary veins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether P wave polarity is helpful in distinguishing which of the 4 pulmonary veins is the site of origin of a premature depolarization. In 28 patients without structural heart disease who underwent focal ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, P wave polarity on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was analyzed during sinus rhythm, and during pacing at a cycle length of 500--600 ms in the high right atrium and within each of the 4 pulmonary veins. P waves were categorized as positive, negative, biphasic or isoelectric. A negative or biphasic P wave in lead I (sensitivity 85 %, specificity 71 %) or a positive P wave in V1 (sensitivity 85 %, specificity 89 %) were helpful in predicting a pulmonary venous site of origin as opposed to a right atrial site of origin. A positive P wave in lead II and III distinguished superior from inferior pulmonary veins (sensitivity 90 %, specificity 84 %). The sensitivity and specificity of negative or biphasic P waves in lead aVL in distinguishing a left from right pulmonary vein site of origin were 94 % and 42 %, respectively...Continue Reading

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