Abstract
Detection of arrhythmic atrial beats in surface ECGs can be challenging when they are masked by the R or T wave, or do not affect the RR-interval. Here, we present a solution using a high-resolution esophageal long-term ECG that offers a detailed view on the atrial electrical activity. The recorded ECG shows atrial ectopic beats with long coupling intervals, which can only be successfully classified using additional morphology criteria. Esophageal high-resolution ECGs provide this information, whereas surface long-term ECGs show poor atrial signal quality. This new method is a promising tool for the long-term rhythm monitoring with software-based automatic classification of atrial beats.
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This work was funded by the Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI, Switzerland, the Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital and the Swiss Heart Foundation.
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Niederhauser, T., Marisa, T., Haeberlin, A. et al. High-resolution esophageal long-term ECG allows detailed atrial wave morphology analysis in case of atrial ectopic beats. Med Biol Eng Comput 50, 769–772 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-012-0915-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-012-0915-7