The electrocardiogram in ventricular septal defect has received relatively little attention, and standard works on congenital heart disease and cardiology have referred to it as either being normal or presenting no striking abnormality.1-4 More recently the occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy, combined hypertrophy, complete right bundle branch block, and incomplete right bundle branch block have been variously commented upon.5-7 In view of the variety of combinations of shunt volume and right ventricular pressure found in patients with ventricular septal defect, it should not be surprising if a variety of electrocardiographic patterns are encountered.
A study of the electrocardiograms of 50 patients with ventricular septal defect upon whom cardiac catheterization had been performed has led us to conclude that the electrocardiogram reflects with reasonable accuracy the type and magnitude of hemodynamic abnormality present.
Material and Methods
At least one standard 12-lead electrocardiogram was obtained in each case, and in