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P Wave Assessment: State of the Art Update

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Cardiac Electrophysiology Review

Abstract

Diagnostic (mapping) and therapeutic (ablation, pacing) advances have provided insightinto atrial depolarization processes and new developments in P wave analysis. Information about interatrial pathwaysis important to the understanding of interatrial conduction delay. A standardized method for P wave analysis isnecessary for the development of a clinical role for management of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillationusing signal-averaged P wave analysis and P wave dispersion. Algorithms for predicting localization of ectopic Pwaves may facilitate catheter ablation. P wave changes due to pacing at different atrial sites may be useful forpermanent pacing for prevention of atrial fibrillation. Introduction of these developments into clinical practiceshould allow better prevention and treatment of atrial arrhythmias and could have considerable impact in view oftheir high frequency especially in the older population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Area Critica Medico Chirurgica, Università di Firenze, Italy

    Antonio Michelucci, Andrea Colella, Paolo Pieragnoli, Maria Cristina Porciani, Gianfranco Gensini & Luigi Padeletti

  2. Dipartimento di Cardiologia, Ospedale di Foligno, Italy

    Giuseppe Bagliani

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  1. Antonio Michelucci
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  2. Giuseppe Bagliani
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  3. Andrea Colella
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  7. Luigi Padeletti
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Michelucci, A., Bagliani, G., Colella, A. et al. P Wave Assessment: State of the Art Update. Card Electrophysiol Rev 6, 215–220 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016368723033

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