The Double U Wave—Should the Electrocardiogram be Interpreted Echocardiographically?
The U wave is still an electrocardiographic deflection of enigmatic origin. Numerous hypotheses on its origin have been formulated, but to date none has been conclusively proven. Recently, a report described the first case of bifid (or notched) U waves. Until then this phenomenon has only been descr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2010-01-01
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| Series: | Clinical Medicine Insights: Cardiology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4137/CMC.S5892 |
| _version_ | 1818523447915970560 |
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| author | James Ker |
| author_facet | James Ker |
| author_sort | James Ker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The U wave is still an electrocardiographic deflection of enigmatic origin. Numerous hypotheses on its origin have been formulated, but to date none has been conclusively proven. Recently, a report described the first case of bifid (or notched) U waves. Until then this phenomenon has only been described in the T wave. This is the first report of double U waves—two separate deflections, ascribed to an accessory papillary muscle. Hypothesis The presence of a double U wave will be associated with an accessory papillary muscle (s). Materials and Methods This is a retrospective analysis of 4729 patient files of patients who were evaluated at a cardiology practice. The 12-lead surface electrocardiogram was evaluated for the possible presence of a double U wave. In cases where a double U wave was found, the transthoracic echocardiogram was then scrutinized for the presence of an accessory papillary muscle. Results A total of 3 cases of a double U wave were found. In every case an accessory papillary muscle was clearly seen on the transthoracic echocardiogram. Conclusion A double U wave is a new variant of an old electrocardiographic deflection of enigmatic origin. This variant may be associated with an accessory papillary muscle. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:45:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7da4dc46db854d08ba3455932b323b91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-5468 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:45:02Z |
| publishDate | 2010-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Medicine Insights: Cardiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7da4dc46db854d08ba3455932b323b912022-12-22T01:18:59ZengSAGE PublishingClinical Medicine Insights: Cardiology1179-54682010-01-01410.4137/CMC.S5892The Double U Wave—Should the Electrocardiogram be Interpreted Echocardiographically?James Ker0Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.The U wave is still an electrocardiographic deflection of enigmatic origin. Numerous hypotheses on its origin have been formulated, but to date none has been conclusively proven. Recently, a report described the first case of bifid (or notched) U waves. Until then this phenomenon has only been described in the T wave. This is the first report of double U waves—two separate deflections, ascribed to an accessory papillary muscle. Hypothesis The presence of a double U wave will be associated with an accessory papillary muscle (s). Materials and Methods This is a retrospective analysis of 4729 patient files of patients who were evaluated at a cardiology practice. The 12-lead surface electrocardiogram was evaluated for the possible presence of a double U wave. In cases where a double U wave was found, the transthoracic echocardiogram was then scrutinized for the presence of an accessory papillary muscle. Results A total of 3 cases of a double U wave were found. In every case an accessory papillary muscle was clearly seen on the transthoracic echocardiogram. Conclusion A double U wave is a new variant of an old electrocardiographic deflection of enigmatic origin. This variant may be associated with an accessory papillary muscle.https://doi.org/10.4137/CMC.S5892 |
| spellingShingle | James Ker The Double U Wave—Should the Electrocardiogram be Interpreted Echocardiographically? Clinical Medicine Insights: Cardiology |
| title | The Double U Wave—Should the Electrocardiogram be Interpreted Echocardiographically? |
| title_full | The Double U Wave—Should the Electrocardiogram be Interpreted Echocardiographically? |
| title_fullStr | The Double U Wave—Should the Electrocardiogram be Interpreted Echocardiographically? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Double U Wave—Should the Electrocardiogram be Interpreted Echocardiographically? |
| title_short | The Double U Wave—Should the Electrocardiogram be Interpreted Echocardiographically? |
| title_sort | double u wave should the electrocardiogram be interpreted echocardiographically |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4137/CMC.S5892 |
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