article information

Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences: Vol.6, issue 1; e80961
published online: June 19, 2002
article type: Research Article
received: January 21, 2002
accepted: May 22, 2002

Importance of Posterior Leads of Electrocardiography in Diagnosis of Acute Posterior Myocardial Infarction

authors:

avatar N Salehi 1 , *

Iran

how to cite: Salehi N. Importance of Posterior Leads of Electrocardiography in Diagnosis of Acute Posterior Myocardial Infarction. J Kermanshah Univ Med Sci. 2002;6(1):e80961. 

Abstract

History & objective: Standard 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) is not a sensitive means of diagnosing acute posterior myocardial infarction(MI). In this study we are reporting the value of posterior leads (V1, V8,V9) in diagnosis of posterior MI.
Materials & methods: We used posterior leads, in addition to standard12-lead ECG, in 60 patients with acute MI, and compared the diagnostic result with technitium pyrophosphate scan that obtained within 72 hours of patients’ admission at hospital.
Findings: 27 patients(45%) showed ST-elevation in at least two posterior leads. Technitium Scan(TS) showed an uptake in 24 of these 27 patients and in 3 patients with no ST-elevation. True positive, false negative, true negative, and false positive rates were 88.9%, 11.1%, 90.9%, and 9.1%, respectively.Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and test accuracy, in diagnosing acute posterior MI were 88.9%, 90%, 88.9%, 90%, and 90%, respectively.
Discussion: Considering high sensitivity and specificity of using posterior leads, we recommend routine use of these leads in patients suspected of having acute MI, became thrombolytic theraphy of such patients will decrease the mortality rate.

Fulltext

The full text of this article is available on PDF