Electrocardiographic Findings in One Hundred Verified Cases of Ventricular Septal Defect

Abstract

We have reviewed the electrocardiograms of 100 children with isolated ventricular septal defect for (1) possible typical or diagnostic patterns, (2) relationship to pulmonary artery pressure and flow and to histological pulmonary vascular changes, and (3) prognostic significance as to surgical risks. Descriptions regarding the electrocardiogram in patients with ventricular septal defect have been varied. Taussig 1 considered the electrocardiogram to be of little diagnostic aid in ventricular septal defects. She noted that bizarre ventricular complexes of high amplitude were often associated with this defect but stated that similar findings occurred with equal frequency in other heart malformations. Others have reported that the electrocardiogram varies with the clinical picture, depending upon the size of the septal defect, location of the defect, and the pulmonary peripheral resistance. Kjellberg et al., 2 in reviewing their 45 cases with this defect, noted that when the pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures were balanced the