Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 31, 2026

Non-fluoroscopic Catheter Tracking for Fluoroscopy Reduction in Interventional Electrophysiology
Published on: May 26, 2015
P wave amplitude and duration may predict immediate recurrence of atrial fibrillation after internal cardioversion
Bulent Gorenek1, Alpaslan Birdane, Gulmira Kudaiberdieva
1Department of Cardiology, Osmangazi University School of Medicine, Eskişehir, Turkey. bgorenek@hotmail.com
Background:
Although internal cardioversion (IC) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is effective at restoring sinus rhythm, immediate recurrence (IR) of AF after IC is a major and largely unpredictable clinical problem. The purpose of the study was to determine the role of P wave duration and amplitude in prediction of IR of AF after IC. Forty-five consecutive patients undergoing IC for chronic AF were evaluated.
Material And Methods:
After successful IC, 1-minute ECG recording was obtained in all patients. P wave duration and amplitude in Lead II and V1 were measured using computer. Forty patients (88%) had successful IC. Thirteen patients experienced IR of AF within 1 minute of restoring sinus rhythm.
Results And Conclusion:
As a result, the incidence of IR of AF after IC was higher in the patients with shorter P wave amplitude (for lead II P<0.01, for V1 P<0.01) and larger P wave duration (for lead II P<0.01, for V1 P<0.05).
Related Concept Videos
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Correlation between ECG and Cardiac Cycle
A cardiac action potential originates in the SA node and spreads throughout the atria and the AV node in approximately 0.03 seconds. This results in the P wave in an ECG and triggers atrial contraction. The action potential is then briefly slowed at the AV node, allowing the atria to contract and fill the ventricles with blood before...
Electrocardiogram
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and the T...
Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias
Cardiac Action Potential
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
Electrocardiogram Fundamentals
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic tool for identifying cardiac conditions such as arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, and myocardial ischemia.
Definition
An electrocardiogram (ECG) visualizes the heart's electrical activity by tracing the electrical movement associated with each heartbeat on a graph or monitor. As the heart beats, an electrical wave passes through it, correlating with the cardiac cycle events.
Parts of an ECG
An ECG utilizes electrodes on the skin to...

