Left Atrial Enlargement

Creado por team@ekgdx.com el 21 de Enero de 2023

Let’s talk about left atrial enlargement (LAE)

LAE is characterized electrocardiographically by the presence of notched P wave and/or biphasic P wave.

Criteria

Notched P wave

  • Morphology: "M" shape. 
  • Duration: ≥0.12 sec.
  • Usually seen in II, III and aVF. 

Note the notched P waves with M shape.

Biphasic P wave 

  • Biphasic P wave in V1 with terminal negative deflection >1 mm and >0.04 sec. 

Note the terminal negative deflection of the P wave >1 mm and >0.04 sec. in V1.

Possible causes:

  • Valve disease
  • Hypertensive heart disease
  • LVH
  • MI
  • others

NOTE: EKG has poor diagnostic sensitivity for chamber enlargement, therefore an echocardiogram is necessary. 

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References

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Thanks for joining us. 

Dr. Roig

Left Atrial Enlargement LAE