Localization of significant coronary arterial narrowings using body surface potential mapping during exercise stress testing.

The ability of body surface potential mapping to localize coronary arterial narrowings during exercise stress testing was investigated. An array of 48 chest wall electrodes, simultaneously recorded, was used. Digital filtering and signal processing, data reduction techniques and discriminant analysis were applied to process the information. Forty patients whose coronary angiograms showed a single significant narrowing of either the left anterior descending or right coronary artery were selected for further study. On the basis of body surface potential mapping, the site of coronary arterial narrowing was correctly classified in 88% of the patients.