P wave
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
During normal atrial depolarization, the main electrical vector is directed from the SA node towards the AV node, and spreads from the right atrium to the left atrium. This turns into the P wave on the ECG, which is upright in II, III, and aVF (since the general electrical activity is going toward the positive electrode in those leads), and inverted in aVR (since it is going away from the positive electrode for that lead).
The P wave Morphology
The P wave represents atrial depolarization (stimulation). At either slow or normal heart rates, the small, rounded P wave is clearly visible just before the taller, more peaked QRS complex. At more rapid rates, however, the P wave may merge with the preceding T wave and become difficult to identify. represents depolarization of the atrial myocardium. Sinus node depolarization is too small in amplitude to be recorded from the body surface so it is not seen.
P waves have four steps to be identified;
1. Examination of the P wave contour. The P wave contour is normally smooth, and is either entirely positive or entirely negative wave (monophasic wave) in all leads except V1.
2. Measurement of the P wave duration. The P wave duration is normally less than 0.12 seconds.
3. Measurement of the maximal P wave amplitude. The maximal P-wave amplitude is normally no more than 0.2 mV in the frontal plane leads and no more than 0.1 mV in the transverse plane leads.
4. Estimation of the P wave axis. The P wave normally appears entirely upright on leftward and inferiorly oriented leads such as I, II, aVF, and V4 to V6. It is negative in aVR because of the rightward orientation of that lead, and it is variable in the other standard leads. The normal limits of the P wave axis are 0 degrees and +75 degrees.
The P Wave in Normal Sinus Rhythm
A P wave must be upright in leads II and aVF and inverted in lead aVR to designate a cardiac rhythm as normal sinus rhythm. The relationship between P waves and QRS complexes helps distinguish various cardiac arrhythmias. If the P wave is inverted, then the origin of the rhythm may be in the low atrial region.
Widened P waves can be a sign of Class Ia antiarrhythmic drugs intoxication (quinidine, etc.) and small or absent P waves can be a sign of hyperkalemia.
The P Wave in Left Atrial Enlargement
The shape and duration of the P waves may indicate atrial enlargement. Left atrial enlargement may be observed among patients with mitral insufficiency.
- Criteria for left atrial enlargement. Either
- P wave with a broad (>0.04 sec or 1 small square) and deeply negative (>1 mm) terminal part in V1 (P mitrale)
- P wave duration >0.12 sec in leads I and / or II
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Left atrial enlargement
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Left atrial enlargement with ECG.
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Left atrial enlargement as seen in lead V1.
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Left atrial enlargement, a 12 lead ECG
Differential Diagnosis of Left Atrial Enlargement
- Atrial aneurysm
- Infective endocarditis
- Left heart failure
- Mitral regurgitation
- Mitral stenosis
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Myxedma
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Ventricular septal defect
The P Wave in Right Atrial Enlargement
Right atrial enlargement can result from increased right-sided pressures such as those related to valvular lesions and after pulmonary embolism. A positive part of the biphasic P wave in lead V1 larger than the negative part indicates right atrial enlargement. The width of the P wave is not part of the criteria for right atrial enlargement.
- Right atrial enlargement is defined as either
- P is taller than 2.5 mm in II / III and / or aVF (P pulmonale)
- P >1.5 mm in V1
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Right atrial enlargement
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Right atrial enlargement
Differential Diagnosis of Right Atrial Enlargement
- Atrial aneurysm
- Atrial septal defect
- Ebstein's anomaly
- Pulmonic stenosis
- Right heart failure
- Tricuspid prolapse
- Tricuspid regurgitation
- Tricuspid stenosis
- Tumor
Differential Diagnosis of Inverted P Waves in I and aVL
It is possible to distinguish lead reversal and dextrocardia by watching the precordial leads. Dextrocardia will show an R wave inversion, whereas lead reversal will not.
This bottom EKG shows marked right axis deviation and loss of voltage across the precordium. There are also inverted P waves in leads I and aVL. The differential for inverted P waves in lead I and aVL is Dextrocardia vs Reversed Arm Leads. Since there is loss of voltage across the precordium this is Dextrocardia.
If the P waves are inverted in the other leads, then this may indicate that there is a low atrial focus to the origin of the rhythm.
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Right and left arm lead reversal can be distinguished from the (much rarer) dextrocardia by looking at the precordial R wave progression.
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EKG in a patient with dextrocardia
References
Additional resources
- ECGpedia: Course for interpretation of ECG
- The whole ECG - A basic ECG primer
- 12-lead ECG library
- Simulation tool to demonstrate and study the relation between the electric activity of the heart and the ECG
- ECG information from Children's Hospital Heart Center, Seattle
- ECG Challenge from the ACC D2B Initiative
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Diseases and Conditions Index
- A history of electrocardiography
- EKG Interpretations in infants and children