Quantification of ventricular repolarization dispersion on the electrocardiogram by means of T wave duration

Increased ventricular repolarization dispersion (VRD) has been associated with risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmia. Several ECG parameters have been propose to quantify the VRD, which do not 'have definitive validation. The objective is to find and validate markers which represent the VRD more accurately. We hypothesized that VRD increment, is reflected by T-wave widening. T-wave duration (Twd) is therefore proposed as a index to quantify VRD. The Twd and the so call T-wave residuum (Twd) have been computed. An isolated rabbit heart model was used. Global VRD, at all myocardium regions, was induced by supplying d- Sotalol and by premature ventricular stimulation (PVS). Twd , showed sign@cant increase with VRD increase (78.0±10.3v s 133.6±29.6msw ith d-Sotaloland 95.2±7.9 vs 118.5±15.7ms with PVS) whileT,, didnotchange for this global VRR increase.