The electrocardiographic examination can provide indications on the morphological remodeling of the heart walls and on the electrical remodeling. Furthermore, with the study of heart rate variability (HRV) important indications on the sympathetic-vagal balance can be obtained in the course of pathologies affecting different systems. Various works in human medicine have demonstrated the correlation between the duration of the P wave or the QRS complex with the atrial or ventricular dimensions respectively. Correlations have also been found with survival. In veterinary medicine the results are discordant. Our group has not identified an association between the duration of the P wave and the atrial dimensions. Studies are underway on the duration of the QRS complex in chronic mitral disease and on the measurement for 5 minutes of HRV in pathologies affecting different systems.

• Savarino P., Borgarelli M., Tarducci A., Crosara S., Bello N.M., Margiocco M.L. - Diagnostic performance of P wave duration in the identification of left atrial enlargement in dogs - Journal Small Anim. Practice – 2012 – 267-272.

• Dr. Paolo Savarino - docente a contratto-libero professionista