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NARRATIVE INTERPRETATION
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P-wave voltage greater than 2.5 mm, leads II, III, aVF. Limb-lead voltage less than 5 mm. R-wave voltage V1–V3 less than 3 mm.
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Sinus rhythm. Low voltage limb leads. Right atrial abnormality. Poor R-wave progression.
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Comment: Low voltage (the total amplitude of the R and S waves is less than 5 mm in any limb lead) is present in this tracing. Low voltage may be seen in patients with pericardial effusion, myxedema, amyloidosis, profound obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and extensive loss of functioning myocardial tissue as might occur after multiple myocardial infarctions. Poor R-wave progression is identified when R waves are present in the anterior precordial leads, but R-wave magnitude is less than 3.0 mm in lead V3. Causes include anterior wall myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricular hypertrophy, left anterior fascicular block, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or normal variants. In this case, the most likely cause of both low voltage and poor R-wave progression is COPD. The tall peaked P waves represent right atrial enlargement secondary to elevated right heart pressures.
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Kilcoyne
MM, Davis
AL, Ferrer
MI: A dynamic electrocardiographic concept useful in the diagnosis of cor pulmonale.
Circulation 42:903–924, 1970.
[PubMed: 4249377]
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Selvester
RH, Rubin
HB: New criteria for the electrocardiographic diagnosis of emphysema and cor pulmonale.
Am Heart J 69:437–447, 1965.
[PubMed: 14270092]
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A 79-year-old man with chronic dyspnea. He is a heavy smoker
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NARRATIVE INTERPRETATION
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APC. VPC. Axis leftward of −30 degrees. R wave V1–V3 less than 3 mm. R wave lead aVL + S wave lead V3 greater than 28 mm in a male. R wave in lead aVL greater than 11 mm. R wave lead I + S wave lead III greater than 25 mm. ST depression, leads I, V6. T-wave inversion, leads I, aVL, V6. T-wave biphasic lead V5.
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Sinus rhythm. VPC. APC. Left-axis deviation. Left anterior fascicular block. LVH. Poor R-wave progression. ST-T-wave abnormalities associated with ventricular hypertrophy.
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1, 10, 26, 64, 66, 72, 78, 103, (106).
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Comment: Even though “classic” precordial voltage criteria are absent, the gender-specific Cornell criteria call for a diagnosis of LVH. ...