Clinical Significance of Prolonged P Wave Width After Right Atrial Appendage Pacing in Sick Sinus Syndrome

The present study investigated both the clinical significance of atrial fibrillation (AF) before right atrial appendage (RAA) pacing and the influence of prolonged P wave on AF occurrence in RAA-paced patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS). Fifty-seven patients (age 68±10 years; 19 men, 38 women) with SSS who underwent RAA pacing were divided into 2 groups: 23 patients without AF before pacing (I + II; Rubenstein I or II) and 34 patients with AF before pacing (III; Rubenstein III). The P wave duration in intrinsic rhythm and with RAA pacing were measured on the standard electrocardiography in leads II and V1 with the use of a digitizing tablet. Group III was further subdivided into 2 groups: 20 patients (IIIb) with a paced P wave >130 ms in both leads II and V1 and the other 14 patients (IIIa). The duration of the intrinsic P wave in leads II and V1 was significantly greater in group III than in group I + II (119±20 vs 108±21 ms, p=0.0417, 106±16 vs 95±21 ms, p=0.0258, respectively). During the follow-up of 40±21 months, AF recurrence was significantly higher in group IIIb than in groups IIIa and I + II (17/20 vs 5/14 vs 2/23 p<0.0001). A few occurrences of AF were observed by conventional RAA pacing in patients without AF before pacing. However, SSS with AF before pacing caused a significant intra-atrial conduction disturbance and a high incidence of AF recurrence after implantation of RAA pacing, especially in patients with a prolonged paced P wave, in whom new pacing modalities may be needed to shorten paced P wave duration and prevent AF. (Circ J 2003; 67: 485 - 489)