SIGNIFICANCE OF DOWNWARD T WAVES IN PRECORDIAL LEADS OF NORMAL CHILDREN

Abstract

IN THE past the use of precordial leads in children was of limited value. The reason for this is that while a disease such as rheumatic fever can produce downward T waves in precordial leads, downward T waves in these leads can be obtained from normal children. This has been pointed out by Master, Dack and Jaffe,¹ Levy and Bruenn,² Robinow, Katz and Bohning³ and many others. The observations described in this paper are of value in overcoming this difficulty. MATERIAL AND METHOD Fifty normal children were studied. They were selected at random from the surgical ward of Lincoln Hospital, New York. The children selected were convalescing from traumatic conditions such as fractures and from minor surgical procedures. Their ages ranged from 5 to 11 years. In all the cases, the three standard leads and at least one precordial lead, with the precordial electrode in the fifth