Surface ECG vector characteristics of organized and disorganized atrial activity during atrial fibrillation

Jason Ng, Alan V. Sahakian, Westby G. Fisher, Steven Swiryn*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine atrial organization from vectorcardiograms (VCGs) derived from the surface ECG of atrial fibrillatory waves. Methods: We retrieved ECGs recorded during ventricular asystole from 22 patients with AF undergoing ablation of the AV junction. The synthesized VCG of each f-wave cycle of each ECG and its plane of best fit, described by azimuth and elevation angles relative to the frontal plane, were computed. Results: Fifteen of the 22 ECGs had at least 30% of the planes in a single 30-degree region of azimuth angles. Of these 15, 12 had the greatest percentage of planes with azimuth angles within 30 degrees of the sagittal plane; two were near the frontal plane; and one near the right anterior oblique plane. Conclusions: Varying degrees of organization were observed from VCGs of fibrillatory waves with the more organized examples having planes predominately near the sagittal plane.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)91-97
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Electrocardiology
Volume37
Issue numberSUPPL.
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2004

Funding

This study was supported in part by grants from the Dr. Scholl Foundation, Northbrook, Illinois, and the O’Shaughnessy Foundation, St. Paul, MN.

Keywords

  • Atrial fibrillation
  • electrocardiography
  • organization
  • vectorcardiography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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