# The clinical value of P-wave terminal force in lead V1 in evaluating pericardial thickness in tuberculous constrictive pericarditis

## TL;DR

This study shows that the P-wave terminal force in lead V1 on an electrocardiogram can help assess pericardial thickness in patients with tuberculous constrictive pericarditis.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that Ptfv1 can serve as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for evaluating pericardial thickness in this specific condition.

## Key findings

- Ptfv1 values showed statistically significant correlations with pericardial thickness measured by echocardiography and chest CT.
- Postoperative measurements confirmed consistency with preoperative Ptfv1 values and imaging results.
- Ptfv1 values ≥ 5 were more common after surgery compared to before, supporting its diagnostic utility.

## Abstract

To investigate the relationship between p wave terminal force (Ptfv1) and pericardial thickness in patients with tuberculous constrictive pericarditis.

From January 2018 to October 2022, 95 patients with tuberculous constrictive pericarditis who needed pericarditis dissection in a hospital were collected, and 3 patients who did not meet the criteria were excluded, a total of 92 cases. The absolute value of Ptfv1 in conventional electrocardiogram was tested before surgery, and pericardial thickness was measured by echocardiography and chest CT. Pericardial thickness was measured after pericardial dissection. Pearson correlation analysis was used, R software was used to make scatter plot, and non-parametric square test was used. The correlation of postoperative measurements with echocardiography, chest CT and absolute value of Ptfv1 was analyzed.

Pearson correlation analysis was conducted with postoperative measurements and echocardiography measurements, postoperative measurements and chest CT measurements, and postoperative measurements and absolute value of Ptfv1. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between postoperative measurements and echocardiography, chest CT and Ptfv1 values were statistically significant. Scatter plot and nonparametric Chi-square test showed that postoperative measurements were consistent with absolute values of echocardiography, chest CT and Ptfv1 (p < 0.05). And this study found that the distribution of the value of Ptfv1 ≥ 5 was higher than the value of Ptfv1 < 5 after pericardiectomy (0.95:0.05) in the absolute value of Ptfv1 ≥ 0.04 which measured before pericardiectomy. The hypothesis was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

The absolute value of Ptfv1 in electrocardiogram can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic index to evaluate pericardial thickness in tuberculous constrictive pericarditis.