Open AccessLate potentials recording with a precordial signal‐averaged electrocardiogram in 53 consecutive patients with a first acute myocardial infarction: Incidence and early natural history
Author(s) -
Strasberg B.,
Abboud S.,
Kusniec J.,
Sclarovsky S.,
Agmon J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960131005
Subject(s) - medicine , signal averaged electrocardiogram , qrs complex , myocardial infarction , cardiology , incidence (geometry) , precordial examination , bundle branch block , electrocardiography , left bundle branch block , natural history , heart failure , physics , optics
Abstract Signal‐averaged electrocardiograms were obtained in 53 consecutive patients with a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who survived the first 10 days of hospitalization. The recording was performed twice, at Day 1 and at Day 10 of hospitalization, in patients without bundle‐branch block and who did not receive antiarrhythmic therapy. Signal‐averaged ECGs were obtained with an instrument which analyzes the presence of late potentials (LP) in each individual precordial lead. There were 41 men and 12 women, mean age of 67 years. On Day 1, three patients had L.P (5.6%). On Day 10, LP was recorded in 11 patients (21%). In only one patient was LP transient. Patients who developed LP by Day 10 (absent in Day 1) had statistically significant lower root mean square (rms) voltage and higher QRS duration than patients who did not develop LP on Day 10. In conclusion, in patients with a first AMI who survive the initial hospitalization period and are not in need of antiarrhythmic therapy have an incidence of LP of 21%. A predischarge recording is preferable since this will maximize the chances of detecting LP.