[An alternative method for the diagnosis of an anterosuperior hemiblock].

Objective: To develop and validate a rapid method for diagnosing superior anterior hemiblock, comparing it with the system seen as standard.

Design: Comparison study of two diagnostic tests.

Setting: Urban health centre.

Participants: Adult population with prior diagnosis of superior anterior hemiblock included in a computer file of clinical records.

Measurements And Results: The presence or otherwise of superior anterior hemiblock was found by applying the standard criteria for electrocardiograms contained in the clinical records of the participating patients. The proposed test was then applied by finding the precise cardiac axis and the confirmation or rejection of the diagnosis of superior anterior hemiblock. Out of the 121 histories analysed, 40 had superior anterior hemiblock according to the standard criteria, and 81 did not. The system proposed detected 38 of the 40 hemiblock cases, 95% sensitivity, and rejected as normal 76 of the 81 electrocardiograms without superior anterior hemiblock according to the standard pattern, specificity of 93.8%.

Conclusions: Superior anterior hemiblock can be diagnosed by an alternative method which was quicker than the standard pattern, so markedly simplifying the analysis of this feature of the electrocardiogram.