Friday, November 11, 2011

How multiple MIs distort the electrocardiogram

When the Q wave vectors are, say, 90 degrees apart two separate MIs can be easy to spot and localize. If they are on opposite walls (180 degrees apart) things get a little tricky because of cancellation of forces. In such cases nothes and multiple baseline crossings may be observed, producing M and W waves. These electrocardiographic signs of multiple infarcts may predict reduced ejection fraction, according to this paper.