PRECORDIAL LEADS IN CHILDHOOD

Abstract

The publication in 1932 of the paper by Wolferth and Wood¹ on the value of chest leads in the diagnosis of coronary occlusion has been followed by numerous studies describing not only variations in the precordial electrocardiogram found in association with coronary occlusion but also similar changes that may result from myocardial damage due to other conditions.² Confusion resulting from the use of varying positions of the chest lead and of the remote electrode by different observers led to the formulation in 1938³ and in 1943⁴ of recommendations for standardization of precordial leads by a joint committee of the American Heart Association and of the Cardiac Society of Great Britain and Ireland. It was suggested that electrode connections be so made that relative positivity of the precordial electrode be represented in the finished tracing by an upward deflection, as is the case in standard limb leads,