title: The impact of the computer-reported vectorcardiogram on the cardiologist interpreter of the scalar electrocardiogram.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if the computer-reported vectorcardiogram (VCG) had a notable impact on the cardiologist interpreter of the 12-lead scalar electrocardiogram (ECG). Three cardiologists read 100 12-lead scalar ECGs and four months later again read the same tracings while having available the VCG computer report. The diagnosis was altered in 25% of the repeated interpretations. Forty-five per cent of these had only minor changes and can probably be disregarded. Major or significant changes occurred in 14% of the records, and 80% of these were apparently attributable to the computer report. It was concluded that the use of a computer-assisted interpretation of a VCG may enhance the uniformity and consistency of the cardiologist's interpretation of the scalar ECG.
mesh_terms: D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000175:diagnosis; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D014672:Vectorcardiography