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 (T_wd) is therefore proposed as a index to quantify VRD. The Twd and the so call T-wave residuum (T_wd) 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.