The challenge of inferior Q waves.
The presence of unexpected Q waves in an applicant's electrocardiogram poses a diagnostic dilemma for the medical director. On the one hand, the Q waves may be the remnants of a previously unsuspected "silent" myocardial infarction. Conversely, unexpected Q waves may represent a normal or positional variant, or an important noncoronary type of heart disease. This case study illustrates some of the pitfalls in interpreting applicants' electrocardiograms containing Q waves in the inferior leads.
MacKenzie
Ross
R
Ross MacKenzie Consulting, 2261 Constance Drive, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5L8, Canada. rossmackenzieconsulting@msn.com
D004562:Electrocardiography; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005260:Female; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D007352:Insurance, Life; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors