The purpose of electrocardiography in acute and chronic diseases with right ventricular involvement

Abstract

Electrocardiography is a basic diagnostic tool and one that plays a significant role in differentiating many diseases, including those involving the right heart. The diagnosis of right ventricular (RV) pathology is difficult due to the complex structure and the wide spectrum of haemodynamic disorders resulting from its dysfunction. The use of a standard electrocardiogram (ECG) with right-sided leads can be a valuable complement of imaging tests, especially when these are not quickly available. Numerous electrocardiographic abnormalities are observed in the course of acute pulmonary embolism, chronic pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular myocardial infarction, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and some of these also have prognostic significance. Unfortunately, despite its simplicity and utility, ECG is insufficiently sensitive and specific to be the single tool in the recognition of RV pathologies. ECG is a common, inexpensive, non-invasive and easily accomplished complementary test, which can be useful in diagnostic algorithm of right heart diseases.