P-wave and QT dispersion in spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to significant cardiac arrhythmia. However, P-wave, QT dispersion, and risk factors in these patients have not been widely investigated. In this study, we assessed whether there is a relationship between electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters and risk factors in SCI patients. METHODS: The study population consisted of 85 SCI patients and 38 control subjects. P-wave durations were measured using 12 leads of the surface ECG. P-wave dispersion was defined as the difference between the P-wave maximum and P-wave minimum duration. QT dispersion was defined as the difference between the largest and smallest QT interval for any of the 12 leads (QTmax-QT-min). QT intervals were also corrected (QTc) in accordance with the heart rate using Bazett's formula (QT Interval/√[RR interval]). We also evaluated the independent risk factors for P-wave dispersion and QT dispersion in SCI patients. RESULTS: The P-wave minimum, P-wave maximum, QT minimum, and dispersion were significantly different between the control and SCI groups. There was no significant difference in P-wave dispersion, QT maximum, or QTc. Multivariate regression analysis showed that disease duration, glucose and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, and systolic tension were independent risk factors for P-wave dispersion. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that QT dispersion is related to SCI and that P-wave dispersion was linked to the duration of SCI, HDL-C and glucose levels, and arterial tension in SCI patients.

The development of dysphagia and dysphonia due to anterior cervical osteophytes.

Cervical osteophytes may cause dysphagia by compressing the esophagus and may cause dysphonia by compressing the larynx and inferior laryngeal nerve. The occurrence of dysphagia and dysphonia due to cervical osteophytes has rarely been reported in literature. In this article, a case, in which the multiple cervical osteophytes were found to be the cause of dysphagia and dysphonia, was evaluated by imaging methods and electrophysiological evaluation of swallowing and the case was discussed in the light of relevant literatures.