[Establishment of signal-averaged electrocardiographic system and system specific criteria]

Signal-averaging of high resolution electrocardiographic data to identify ventricular late potentials, associated with ventricular tachycardia, has emerged as a useful technique for risk stratification following myocardial infarction. Multiple lead system, filters and criteria have been used in clinical trials. As variations in data analysis are introduced, it is important to assess the impact of the final results and to ensure that criteria for normalcy, appropriate for these variation, are developed if needed. This study compares the results produced by four systems and one system with a different filter used for determination of late potential parameters in the time domain. It is concluded that varying technique and filters significant changes in the values used to identify late potentials on high-resolution electrocardiographic records. These change may have clinical impact. When using this technique in a clinical situation, parameters values, appropriate for the device, and its components should be developed, if needed.