EKG in right atrial enlargement


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief:

Overview
Right atrial enlargement can result from increased pressure in the pulmonary artery. A positive part of the biphasic P wave in lead V1 larger than the negative part indicates right atrial enlargement. Despite the increase in the height of the P wave, the width of the P wave does not change.

Differential Diagnosis of Underlying Causes of Right Atrial Enlargement

 * Atrial aneurysm
 * Atrial septal defect
 * Cor pulmonale or right heart failure
 * Ebstein's anomaly
 * Tumor
 * Pulmonic stenosis
 * Tricuspid prolapse
 * Tricuspid regurgitation
 * Tricuspid stenosis

The EKG in Right atrial enlargement
Right atrial enlargement is defined as either:


 * A P wave >2.5 mm in leads II, III and aVF
 * A P wave >1.5 mm in lead V1