Abstract
Background: Morphologic identification of ectopic P-waves from surface ECGs can be challenging, particularly when the P-wave is buried in the QRST wave complex. Because ECGs are often available on paper and not digitally, we developed a method of subtracting the T-wave from the buried P-wave complex on paper ECGs. Methods: To validate our system, an atrial extrastimulus was introduced during and following the T-wave. The ECGs were scanned and then transformed from an image format to a digital format. A computer algorithm digitally subtracted a QRST with no buried P-wave from one with a buried P-wave, thus resulting in an extracted P-wave. The extracted P-waves were compared to the nonburied P-wave by determining correlation coefficients and by visual grading by two independent reviewers. Results: Visual grading comparing the buried P-wave with the exposed paced P-wave was 94%. The median correlation coefficient was 85%. Conclusions: An ectopic atrial P-wave obscured by a coincident QRST wave complex can be accurately derived from printed ECG using this PC-based system. Addition of this technique to the existing methods may aid in the localization and ablation of ectopic atrial foci.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 142-145 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2005 |
Keywords
- Atrial premature contractions
- Electrocardiography
- QRST subtraction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Physiology (medical)