VALUE OF THE 12 LEAD ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN DIAGNOSING TYPE AND MECHANISM OF A TACHYCARDIA - A SURVEY AMONG 22 CARDIOLOGISTS

[摘要] Information from programmed electrical stimulation of the heart has improved the ability to diagnose the site of origin and mechanism of a tachycardia from the 12 lead ECG. To test this hypothesis, the 12 lead ECG of a 12 yr old girl with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome showing 4 different types of tachycardia were sent for interpretation to 30 leading electrocardiologists, 22 of whom responsed. A correct diagnosis of all 4 tachycardias was made by 13. Three or 2 of the tachycardias were correctly diagnosed by 4 and 5 cardiologists, respectively. The pathway and mechanism of tachycardia apparently can frequently be predicted from the 12 lead ECG alone.