The clinical presentation of coarctation of aorta (CoA) is well known; however, it is the most common congenital heart disease in the newborn period to be missed, with significant mortality and morbidity associated with missing the diagnosis. We report a 20-day-old newborn boy who presented with congestive heart failure and weak femoral pulses. Chest X-ray (CXR) showed cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema and electrocardiography (ECG) showed extreme right axis deviation and absent left ventricular forces in the left precordial leads. Based on these, clinical suspicion of coarctation of aorta was made and confirmed by echocardiography. After initial stabilization with prostaglandin E2 infusion, child underwent urgent coarctation of aorta repair with uneventful post-operative course. High index of suspicion for coarctation of aorta in a newborn with such presentation is required and urgent referral to Pediatric Cardiology and cardiac surgery center is mandatory to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with missing the diagnosis.

To explore the abnormalities in Iranian athletes' electrocardiogram and find any relation with body fat. 239 international athletes were involved in this cross sectional study. Body-fat percentage and resting 12-lead ECGs were recorded from all participants. Of 239 participant athletes, 212 were male and 27 female. 60% of participants had sinus bradycardia. A total of 84% of the athletes demonstrated at least 1 abnormal ECG finding. Average values for the PR, QRS and QT intervals, P-wave duration and QRS axis were in normal range. Frequencies of various ECG abnormal findings in all athletes were as follows: right axis deviation 4.2%, left ventricular hypertrophy 6.2%, sinus arrhythmia 5.8%, right bundle branch block (RBBB) 24.2% (incomplete RBBB 16.8%, complete RBBB 7.4%), ST elevation 72.5%, prolonged QT interval 1.7%, T inversion 3.1% and Mobitz type I 1.2%. The athletes' ECG response to treadmill stress test was normal with no ischemia or arrhythmia. The means of BMI and body-fat percentage were 24.04 ± 3.5 kg/m² and 9.15 ± 2.12%, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient between body-fat percentage and ST changes was 0.65 (P=0.008) in anterior leads and 0.198 (P=0.017) in lateral leads. Also, the correlation coefficient between the body fat percentage and right bundle branch block was 0.36 (P=0.013). The results of current study support the inclusion of ECG in athletes' cardiac screening before they engage in vigorous exercises in order to detect the potentially fatal arrhythmias.

Findings on electrocardiogram may hint that pulmonary embolism (PE) is present when interpreted in the proper context and lead to definitive imaging tests. However, it would be useful to know if electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities also occur in patients with pneumonia and whether these are similar to ECG changes with PE. The purpose of this investigation was to determine ECG findings in patients with pneumonia. We retrospectively evaluated 62 adults discharged with a diagnosis of pneumonia who had no previous cardiopulmonary disease and had electrocardiogram obtained during hospitalization. The most prevalent ECG abnormality, other than sinus tachycardia, was minor nonspecific ST-segment or T-wave changes occurring in 13 of 62 (21%). Right atrial enlargement occurred in 4 of 62 (6.5%). QRS abnormalities were observed in 24 of 62 (39%). Right-axis deviation and S(1)S(2)S(3) were the most prevalent QRS abnormalities, which occurred in 6 of 62 (9.7%). Complete right bundle branch block and S(1)Q(3)T(3) pattern occurred in 3 of 62 (4.8%). ECG abnormalities that were not present within 1 month previously or abnormalities that disappeared within 1 month included left-axis deviation, right-axis deviation, right atrial enlargement, right ventricular hypertrophy, S(1)S(2)S(3), S(1)Q(3)T(3), low-voltage QRS complexes, and nonspecific ST-segment or T-wave abnormalities. In conclusion, electrocardiogram in patients with pneumonia often shows QRS abnormalities or nonspecific ST-segment or T-wave changes. ECG findings are similar to ECG abnormalities in PE and electrocardiogram cannot assist in the differential diagnosis.

Previous studies have indicated that the suboptimal performance of the San Francisco Syncope Rule (SFSR) is likely due to the misclassification of the "abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG)" variable. We sought to identify specific emergency department (ED) ECG and cardiac monitor abnormalities that better predict cardiac outcomes within 30 days in adult ED syncope patients.This health records review included patients 16 years or older with syncope and excluded patients with ongoing altered mental status, alcohol or illicit drug use, seizure, head injury leading to loss of consciousness, or severe trauma requiring admission. We collected patient characteristics, 22 ECG variables, cardiac monitoring abnormalities, SFSR "abnormal ECG" criteria, and outcome (death, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, or cardiac procedures) data. Recursive partitioning was used to develop the "Ottawa Electrocardiographic Criteria."Among 505 included patient visits, 27 (5.3%) had serious cardiac outcomes. We found that patients were at risk for cardiac outcomes within 30 days if any of the following were present: second-degree Mobitz type 2 or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, bundle branch block with first-degree AV block, right bundle branch with left anterior or posterior fascicular block, new ischemic changes, nonsinus rhythm, left axis deviation, or ED cardiac monitor abnormalities. The sensitivity and specificity of the Ottawa Electrocardiographic Criteria were 96% (95% CI 80-100) and 76% (95% CI 75-76), respectively.We successfully identified specific ED ECG and cardiac monitor abnormalities, which we termed the Ottawa Electrocardiographic Criteria, that predict serious cardiac outcomes in adult ED syncope patients. Further studies are required to identify which adult ED syncope patients require cardiac monitoring in the ED and the optimal duration of monitoring and to confirm the accuracy of these criteria.

Electrocardiographic (ECG) findings in Friedreich ataxia and their relation to disease characteristics have not been well described. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the authors reviewed baseline ECGs from 239 children and adults with Friedreich ataxia. ECG abnormalities--assessed in relation to participant age, sex, shorter guanine-adenine-adenine triplet repeat length, age of disease onset, and functional disability score--were found in 90% of subjects, including nonspecific ST-T wave changes (53%), right axis deviation (32%), left ventricular hypertrophy (19%), and right ventricular hypertrophy (13%). Female sex and shorter guanine-adenine-adenine repeat lengths were associated with a normal ECG (P = .004 and P = .003). Males and those of younger age were more likely to show ventricular hypertrophy (P = .006 and P = .026 for left ventricular hypertrophy and P < .001 and P = .001 for right). Neurologic status as measured by the functional disability score did not predict ECG abnormalities.

To determine the value of terminal force of P wave in V1 lead (Ptf-V1) in the diagnosis of coal-workers' pneumoconiosis with pulmonary heart disease complicated by left ventricular hypertrophy.Select the coal-worker with pneumoconiosis postmortem examination cases which were pathologically diagnosed as pulmonary heart disease complicated by left ventricular hypertrophy and can measure Ptf-V1. Select 14 cases with ECG left axis deviation, no deviation and right axis deviation. Measure and analyze the Ptf-V1 value, the thickness of left and right ventricular wall.There's obvious discrepancy in ventricular wall thickness mean in ECG left axis deviation, no deviation and right axis deviation groups, the discrepancy have statistical significance (F1 = 32.18, P < 0.01, F2 = 8.02, P < 0.01). The left ventricular wall is thicker in ECG left axis deviation group [(1.81 +/- 0.18) cm] than in no deviation [(1.47 +/- 0.15) cm] and right axis deviation groups [(1.39 +/- 0.10) cm], the discrepancy have statistical significance with (P < 0.01). The right ventricular wall is thicker in ECG left axis deviation group [(0.79 +/- 0.14) cm] than in no deviation group [(0.58 +/- 0.14) cm], the discrepancy have statistical significance with (P < 0.01). The right ventricular wall is thicker in ECG right axis deviation group [(0.71 +/- 0.14) cm] than in no deviation group, the discrepancy have statistical significance with (P < 0.05). ECG left axis deviation Ptf-V1 relevance ratio 85.71% is higher than in no deviation (35.70%) and right axis deviation groups (28.57%), the discrepancy have statistical significance with (P < 0.01). The Ptf-V1 absolute value is positively related with left ventricular wall thickness in ECG left axis deviation and no deviation groups (r1 = 0.92, P < 0.01, r2 = 0.93, P < 0.01).Pft-V1 absolute value is the criterion index of left ventricular morphosis and function especially left atrium loading change. ECG Ptf-V1 combined with ECG left axis deviation is valuable to the diagnosis of coal-workers with pneumoconiosis complicated by left ventricular hypertrophy.

Morphological abnormalities in 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) are seen in subgroups of healthy individuals like athletes and air-force personnel. As these populations may not truly represent healthy individuals, we assessed morphological abnormalities in ECG in healthy volunteers participating in phase I studies, who are screened to exclude associated conditions.ECGs from 62 phase I studies analyzed in a central ECG laboratory were pooled. A single drug-free baseline ECG from each subject was reviewed by experienced cardiologists. ECG intervals were measured on five consecutive beats and morphological abnormalities identified using standard guidelines.Morphological abnormalities were detected in 25.5 per cent of 3978 healthy volunteers (2495 males, 1483 females; aged 18-76 yr); the presence was higher in males (29.3% vs. 19.2% in females; P<0.001). Rhythm abnormalities were the commonest (11.5%) followed by conduction abnormalities (5.9%), axis deviation (4%), ST-T wave changes (3.1%) and chamber enlargement (1.4%). Incomplete right bundle branch block (RBBB), short PR interval and right ventricular hypertrophy were common in young subjects (<20 yr) while atrial fibrillation, first degree atrioventricular block, complete RBBB and left anterior fascicular block were more prevalent in elderly subjects (>65 yr). Prolonged PR interval, RBBB and intraventricular conduction defects were more common in males while sinus tachycardia, short PR interval and non-specific T wave changes were more frequent in females.Morphological abnormalities in ECG are commonly seen in healthy volunteers participating in phase I studies; and vary with age and gender. Further studies are required to determine whether these abnormalities persist or if some of these disappear on follow up.

Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose is generally associated with central nervous system (CNS) and cardiovascular toxicity manifested by seizure, electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities and arrhythmia. The objective of this study was to determine whether TCA toxicity would be reduced in patient where benzodiazepine (BDZ) was co-ingested with TCA.Patients who were diagnosed to be poisoned by ingestion of both a tricyclic antidepressant and benzodiazepine (TCA-BDZ), and patients intoxicated solely by a TCA were assessed, provided that they had one or more clinical signs of toxicity (anticholinergic, cardiovascular or CNS findings) and no underlying cardiac disease. TCA poisoned patients who had ingested any drugs other than benzodiazepines were excluded. Patients transferred from elsewhere and those admitted after the first 24 hours were also excluded. The clinical manifestations of TCA toxicity and outcome of the patients poisoned only with TCA (N = 60) were compared with those of the patients who had co-ingested TCAs and BDZs (N = 60).The frequency distribution of sinus tachycardia, "QRS more than 100 ms, R/S aVR equal or more than 0.7, RaVR equal or more than 3 mm", arrhythmia, and generalized tonic colonic seizure was less in patients who had co-ingested BDZ with TCA. Evaluating the relationship between ingested TCA dosage and electrocardiographic findings (duration of QRS, QT and PR intervals, the amplitude of R wave in lead aVR and right axis deviation) in both study groups, demonstrated that there was a strong relationship between TCA dosage and QRS duration in the TCA group. This was significantly different from the same correlation in the TCA-BDZ group (r, 0.50 in TCA group versus r, 0.04 in TCA and BDZ group, P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in complications (aspiration pneumonia, non-cardiac pulmonary oedema and death) between the two groups.cardiovascular toxicity and seizure may be less in TCA-BDZ poisoned patients compared with patients intoxicated with TCA-alone.

The origin of outflow tract ventricular tachycardia (OTVT) can be predicted from a surface electrocardiogram: indexes of R-wave amplitudes in leads V(1) and V(2) are used to differentiate a right origin from a left origin, while the axis of lead I differentiates an anterior origin from a posterior origin. Incorrect electrode placement is clinically common and may alter predictability of OTVTs.To explore the influence of vertical deviation in leads V(1) and V(2) and arm lead position on the QRS morphology of OTVTs.Vertical deviation of leads V(1) and V(2) was studied in 18 patients with OTVTs. Ventricular premature depolarization beats were recorded in the standard position, superior position, and inferior position. The effect of arm lead position was studied in a separate cohort of 16 patients: ventricular premature depolarizations were recorded with limb leads positioned over the shoulders and over the chest. The origin of tachycardia was determined by using activation mapping and confirmed by successful ablation.Superior displacement of leads V(1) and V(2) reduced the R-wave amplitude and led to a decreased R/S ratio (0.11 ± 0.09 vs 0.17 ± 0.1; P <.01), while inferior displacement of leads V(1) and V(2) resulted in an increased R-wave amplitude and led to an increased R/S ratio (0.46 ± 0.35 vs 0.17 ± 0.1; P <.01). Anterior displacement of the arm leads from shoulders to chest resulted in the reduction in the R-wave amplitude in lead I (0.25 ± 0.30 mV vs 0.04 ± 0.43 mV; P <.05).Small changes in electrocardiographic electrode placement markedly alter the QRS morphology of OTVTs and thus alter the predictability of OTVT origin. These deviations are well within the range of clinical application and have the potential to misdirect ablation procedures.