Effects of primary percutaneous coronary intervention on P wave dispersion

Background: Several studies demonstrated that P wave dispersion (PWD) increased after coronary occlusion. The effect of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCl) on PWD needs to be elucidated. Methods: The study consisted of 125 patients with acute myocardial infarction (110 men, mean age 59.8 +/- 7.8 years) undergoing primary PCl. The patients were divided into three groups according to thrombolysis in myocardial infarction myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) after successful PCl. Groups 1 (n = 12), 2 (n = 9), and 3 (n = 104) included the patients with TMPG 0/1, 2, 3, respectively. Electrocardiograms were obtained before and approximately 66 18 minutes after PCl. Results: PWD and P-maximum after PCl were significantly lower than the preintervention values (P < 0.001 for both). When PWD and Pmaximum values after PCl were compared among groups, PWD and Pmaximum in groups 1 and 2 were found to be higher than those of group 3 (P < 0.001 for PWD and Pmaximum). Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurred in 14 patients. P-maximum and PWD in patients with AF were higher compared to those of the patients without AF (P < 0.001 for both P wave parameters). Also more frequent AF attacks were observed in group 1 compared to group 3 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: PWD and P-maximum after primary PCl were lower compared to the preintervention values. Prolonged PWD in patients with poor myocardial perfusion can contribute to increased mortality, and also it can can be combined with ST segment resolution to predict clinical reperfusion and might help in predicting AF.