Assessment of Body Surface Potential Mapping in VDT-Operators

Computer is a genius invention that has made human work more efficient. In spite of undeniable benefits, everyday long-term contact with computer screens is an occupational risk, which induces various undesirable health consequences. Exposure of the VDT-operators to the harmful occupational factors may lead to functional disorders like arrhythmia. BSPM is a diagnostic method enabling global and precise sampling the heart potentials all over the thoracic surface owing to the large number of recording electrodes. Data collected from 87 ECG waveforms is graphically presented as the body surface maps of various formats. Non-dipolar distribution of QRST isointegral maps reflects a heterogeneity of the refractory periods of the ventricles, which is supposed to account for creating a substrate for malignant and life- threatening arrhythmias. This method can be a specific indicator of the increased risk of severe ventricular arrhythmias occurring prior to abnormalities detectable on the standard 12-lead ECG recordings.