Assessment of atrial electromechanical coupling characteristics and P-wave dispersion in patients with atrial septal aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate atrial conduction abnormalities obtained by Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) and electrocardiogram analysis in Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) patients.

METHODS

A total of 30 patients with ASA (11 males/19 females, mean age 29.6 ± 11.3 years) and 25 controls (9 males/16 females, mean age 27.6 ± 9.98 years) were included. Interatrial and intraatrial electromechanical coupling (PA) intervals were measured with DTI. P-wave dispersion (Pd) was calculated from the 12-lead electrocardiogram. Systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) functions were measured by using conventional echocardiography and DTI.

RESULTS

Atrial electromechanical coupling at the left lateral mitral annulus (PA lateral) was significantly delayed in ASA patients (59.3 ± 4.2 vs. 48.5 ± 1.1 ms, P < 0.0001). Interatrial (PA lateral--PA tricuspid) and intraatrial (PA septum--PA tricuspid) electromechanical coupling interval were significantly longer in ASA patients (26.1 ± 6.2 vs. 14.4 ± 6.75 ms, P < 0.0001 and 9.04 ± 1.1 vs. 5.4 ± 2.5 ms, P < 0.0001). maximum P-wave (Pmax) duration and Pd were significantly longer in ASA patients (98.3 ± 8.1 vs. 86.4 ± 7.8 ms, P < 0.001 and 20.7 ± 0.9 vs. 12.3 ± 1.5, P < 0.0001). Systolic and diastolic left ventricular functions of both groups were comparable.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that atrial electromechanical coupling intervals and Pd are delayed in ASA patients.