THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE (A POSTMORTEM CORRELATION STUDY OF 53 CASES

Abstract

53 cases of congenital heart disease were selected only on the basis that both ecg. and post-mortem records were available. As a result of this study and a review of previously reported cases, it is suggested that the existence of congenital heart lesions may be suspected almost pathognomonically by a group of "specific" and "non-specific" congenital ecg. patterns. The former are so termed because the ecg. points to a particular congenital lesion. The latter, as the designation implies, suggest the existence of congenital heart disease but may be seen in a great variety of lesions. Several cases are presented in tabular form to illustrate these conclusions.