The role of esophageal leads in the detection of exercise-induced postero-basal ischemia.
The effects of maximal hyperventilation and submaximal exercise were studied on the unipolar, esophageal electrocardiogram recorded at ventricular level in 25 'normal' persons and 15 patients having ischemic heart disease with a positive exercise stress test. In normal persons, hyperventilation decreased the amplitude of the R and T waves in 10 and 6 cases, respectively. Submaximal exercise increased the height of the P wave in 8 cases, decreased the amplitude of the R wave in 16 cases and increased the depth of the S wave in 10 cases. In patients with established ischemic heart disease, the esophageal lead could detect exercise-induced posterior ischemia in 8 cases when compared to lead V8, which could detect posterior ischemia in only 3 cases. It is inferred that the esophageal lead placed at the ventricular level is much more sensitive in detecting exercise-induced posterobasal ischemia. Lack of facilities for coronary angiographic and exercise thallium scintigraphic studies limited us from correlating this study and thereby establishing its independent usefulness.
Mittal
S R
SR
J.L.N. Medical College, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India.
Sethi
J P
JP
Sharma
D
D
D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004947:Esophagus; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity