The atrial T wave: The elusive electrocardiographic wave exposed by a case of shifting atrial pacemaker

Langley, Philip; Caldwell, Jane

Abstract

The atrial T wave (Ta wave) is the body surface manifestation of atrial repolarisation and, unlike the P wave (atrial depolarisation), is little recognised. We report the case of a patient with shifting pacemaker which clearly demonstrates the effect of the Ta wave on ST segment and T wave. A simple conceptual model is used to explain the observed phenomenon. The case serves as a reminder of this often forgotten ECG wave and its potential effects on other ECG features.

• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Journal: Journal of electrocardiology
• Print ISSN: 0022-0736
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-8430
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 49
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 557-559
• APA6 Citation: Langley, P., & Caldwell, J. (2016). The atrial T wave: The elusive electrocardiographic wave exposed by a case of shifting atrial pacemaker. Journal of Electrocardiology, 49(4), 557-559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2016.05.003
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2016.05.003
• Keywords: Atrial T wave; Pacemaker; Electrocardiology
• Publisher URL: http://www.jecgonline.com/article/S0022-0736(16)30028-0/abstract
• Additional Information: Authors' accepted manuscript of article published in: Journal of electrocardiology, 2016, v.49, issue 4.