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

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology 2006-10, Vol.98 (7), p.978-981
• Main Authors: Benzadón, Mariano Noel, Ortega, Daniel Felipe, Thierer, Jorge Mario, Torcivia, Ricardo Adolfo Spampinato, Aldunate, Leandro, Alves de Lima, Alberto Enrique, Navia, Daniel, Dorsa, Alberto, Rossi, Adriana, Trivi, Marcelo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arrhythmias, Cardiac - diagnosis; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiac Catheterization - methods; Cardiology. Vascular system; Catheterization, Central Venous; Catheters; Comparative studies; Electrocardiography; Electrocardiography - methods; Esophagus; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Medical sciences; Prospective Studies; Saline Solution, Hypertonic; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2006.04.042

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