Diagnostic accuracy of P-wave dispersion in prediction of maintenance of sinus rhythm after external cardioversion of atrial fibrillation

WOS: 000287018600007PubMed: 21183416Objective: P-wave dispersion (PWD) is an electrocardiographic measurement, which reflects a disparity in an atrial conduction. In this study, we aim to demonstrate the diagnostic accuracy of PWD in predicting recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with sinus rhythm restoration after external cardioversion. Methods: This prospective, observational study consists of 26 patients, who underwent external cardioversion for non-valvular persistent AF and successfully cardioverted to sinus rhythm (13 men, mean age 58.1+/-11 years). Twelve-lead surface electrocardiogram of each patient was recorded immediately after the external cardioversion process to measure the P-wave duration. Recurrent AF was assessed for each patient during the 12-month follow-up after restoring the sinus rhythm. Patients were divided into the 2 groups with respect to the AF recurrence (recurrent AF group, (n=19), and sinus rhythm group, (n=7)) and variables that can affect AF development were compared between the two groups. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of AF recurrence and ROC curve analysis was performed to determine the cut-off value of independent factors. Results: The two groups have similar demographic, clinical and echocardiographic features. Patients with recurrent AF had significantly higher PWD than those who continued to have a sinus rhythm (80+/-21 msec vs 53+/-11 msec, p=0.001, respectively). There is a positive correlation observed between the increase in PWD and the risk of AF recurrence (r=0.643; p<0.001). In logistic regression analysis, PWD was found to be an independent predictor of AF recurrence (OR 1.192 (95% Cl 1.032-1.375), p=0.013). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the best cut-off value of PWD for maintenance of sinus rhythm was 58 msec (sensitivity: 86%, specificity: 95%, AUC=0.917, 95% CI=0.785-1.05, p=0.001). Conclusion: This study suggests that PWD analysis after successful external cardioversion has diagnostic accuracy to predict the recurrence of AF (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2011 1: 34-8

Effect of Hand Dominance on Radial Artery Spasm and Occlusion: A Prospective Observational Study

Transradial access has become the most commonly used method for cardiac catheterization. Many medical and technical applications have been proposed to reduce TRA complications. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of hand dominance on radial artery spasm and radial artery occlusionin subjects undergoing CC via TRA. Between April 2020 and August 2022, 1713 subjects who underwent CC via TRA were included in the study. Patient data were obtained in terms of hand dominance of the catheterized side and RAS and RAO during a 1-month follow-up period. RAS was seen in 9.6% of the subjects. The RAS in patients catheterized by the dominant hand was significantly higher than that performed by the non-dominant hand (12 vs 7.8%; P = .004). RAO was seen in 1% of the subjects. RAO was significantly higher in the spasm side than in the no-spasm side (3 vs .8%; P = .009). Hand dominance was determined as an independent predictor of radial artery spasm (P = .006). In our study, RAS and RAO were more common on the dominant hand side than on the non-dominant side. Choosing the non-dominant hand for TRA for CC may reduce the incidence of RAS and RAO. </jats:p