| Abstract | Acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI), if complicated by right ventricular (RV) infarction, is associated with increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality. In this context, the detection of RV and posterior wall (PW) involvement is important and is made possible by direct interrogation of right ventricle using right-sided chest leads (i.e. RV(4-6)) and PW using leads V(7-9) (V(7)-left posterior axillary line, V(8)-inferior angle of left scapula, V(9)-left paravertebral area). ST elevation in lead III greater than II of at least 1mm on the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been shown to have high sensitivity and positive predictive value of RV infarction. The authors conducted a prospective study on all patients who presented with acute inferior MI and were admitted to the Coronary Care Unit in United Christian Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong, from 1 July 1997 to 31 December 1997. A total of twenty-six patients were recruited (19 males, 7 females), with a mean age of 64.2 years (SD 7.9). A 18-lead ECG was routinely done immediately after admission of each patient and serially if thrombolytic therapy was given. |
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