Value of the 12 lead electrocardiogram in diagnosing type and mechanism of a tachycardia: a survey among 22 cardiologists
HJ Wellens,
P Brugada,
and
WF Heddle
Information from programmed electrical stimulation of the heart has improved our ability to diagnose the site of origin and mechanism of a tachycardia from the 12 lead electrocardiogram. To test this hypothesis, the 12 lead electrocardiograms of a 12 year old girl with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome showing four different types of tachycardia were sent for interpretation to 30 leading electrocardiologists , 22 of whom responded. A correct diagnosis of all four tachycardias was made by 13. Three or two of the tachycardias were correctly diagnosed by four and five cardiologists, respectively. The outcome of our study indicates that the pathway and mechanism of tachycardia can frequently be predicted from the 12 lead electrocardiogram alone.
