Limitations of the surface electrocardiogram in diagnosis of atrial arrhythmias. Further observations on dissimilar atrial rhythms

Delon Wu, Pablo Denes, Fernando Amat y Leon, Ramesh C. Chhablani, Kenneth M. Rosen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrophysiologic studies with recordings of multiple intracavitary electrograms were performed in two patients with atrial dysrhythmias. In Case 1 the arrhythmic pattern in the surface electrocardiogram resembled atrial flutter. Electrophysiologic studies revealed the arrhythmia to be paroxysmal left atrial tachycardia, with separation of left and right atrial components of the P wave by an isolectric period secondary to marked interatrial conduction delay. In Case 2 the surface electrocardiogram indicated paroxysmal atrial tachycardia with block. Electrophysiologic studies revealed right atrial standstill with atrial inexcitability and two dissimilar rhythms involving the left atrium. The electrocardiograms did not accurately reflect atrial arrhythmias in these two patients and only multiple direct recordings permitted the correct diagnoses. New electrophysiologic observations concerning intraatrial block and dissimilar atrial rhythms are presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)91-97
Number of pages7
JournalThe American journal of cardiology
Volume36
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1975

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Limitations of the surface electrocardiogram in diagnosis of atrial arrhythmias. Further observations on dissimilar atrial rhythms'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this