The J-point elevation of the ST segment, the early repolarization (ER) pattern is diagnosed usually on a resting 12-lead ECG. We investigated the ER pattern on 24-h Holter recordings under physiological conditions in 9,200 consecutive cases. The patients' age varied between 14 days to 95 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImpaired interatrial conduction or interatrial block is well documented but is not described as an individual electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern in most of ECG books, although the term atrial abnormalities to encompass both concepts, left atrial enlargement (LAE) and interatrial block, has been coined. In fact, LAE and interatrial block are often associated, similarly to what happens with ventricular enlargement and ventricular block. The interatrial blocks, that is, the presence of delay of conduction between the right and left atria, are the most frequent atrial blocks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Noninvasive Electrocardiol
April 2011
Recent studies suggest that the electrocardiographic (ECG) finding of J-point ST-elevation, the early repolarization syndrome, is not as benign as earlier believed. Three important articles published in 2008/2009 suggest that this finding in the inferolateral leads of the ECG may be representing a risk for subsequent ventricular fibrillation. Although these retrospective studies do justify a careful evaluation of persons with this electrocardiographic pattern, especially of those with syncope or ventricular arrhythmias and/or family history of sudden cardiac death, it seems to be unjustified to consider it today to be a marker for high risk for sudden cardiac deaths in a general population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe electrocardiogram (ECG) remains the most immediately accessible and widely used diagnostic tool for guiding emergency treatment strategies. The ECG recorded during acute myocardial ischemia is of diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic significance. In patients with myocardial ischemia as a result of decreased blood supply, the initial 12-lead ECG typically shows (1) predominant ST-segment elevation (STE) as part of STE acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS), or (2) no predominant STE, that is, non-STE ACS (NSTE-ACS).
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