ISSN:
1540-8167
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Tachographic Discrimination of Parasystole. Introduction: To discriminate ventricular parasystole from fixed coupling interval ventricular premature complexes (VPCs), we developed a new diagnostic method using a dot distribution pattern corresponding to VPCs recorded on a heart rate tachogram using ambulatory ECG monitoring data. We tested our hypothesis that widely scattered VPC dots on instantaneous heart rate tachograms indicate a constant VPC-VPC interval compatible with parasystole. Methods and Results: Patients with frequent VPCs 〉 5,000/day) were divided into two groups depending on the tachogram dot distribution patterns: group F (n = 10, aged 61 ± 16 years) showed widely scattered VPC dot distribution, whereas group F (n = 10, 60 ± 17 years) showed fixed VPC dot distribution limited to a narrow zone. Using digitized R-R interval data, full-day heart rate tachograms and VPC-VPC intervals were depicted simultaneously. Group S demonstrated constant basic VPC-VPC intervals (1,285 to 2,052 msec, mean 1,738 ± 219), with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.061 ± 0.018. Their VPC coupling intervals were markedly variable (651 ± 113 msec; CV = 0.193 ± 0.034). Each patient's basic VPC-VPC intervals showed small diurnal alterations (minimum -13%± 3% to maximum +15%± 6%). VPC-VPC intervals in group F were not constant and showed marked variation. Group F VPC coupling intervals were shorter and constant (480 ± 30 msec, P = 0.0002; with CV = 0.076 ± 0.013, P 〈 0.0001). Conclusion: Ventricular parasystole with constant VPC-VPC intervals consistently became evident based on VPC dot patterns recorded on heart rate tachograms.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8167.2000.tb00316.x
Permalink
