[Auricular Q wave in right precordial derivations. New sign of left auricular growth]

The authors present four cases of rheumatic heart disease with severe dilatation of the left atrium which reached the right profile in the radiologic study. An initial negative deflexion of the P-wave (qP) in the right precordial leads was recorder in these cases. The presence of qP was interpreted in view of the atrial activation and the solid angle of the right precordial leads as a variation of potential of the right atrial ceiling and/or of the high interatrial septum, a consequence of the dislocation of the right atrium produced by severe dilatation of the left atrium, demonstrated radiologically in the cases studied. Thee presence of qP is another undoubtably valuable sign for inferring a severe displacement of the left atrium toward the right profile.