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[Massive pulmonary thromboembolism with left axis deviation and low voltage].
C J Sánchez Díaz1, A Ramírez Rivera, V M González Carmona
1Hospital de Cardiología Luis Méndez, Centro Médico Nacional, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, D.F.
Archivos Del Instituto De Cardiologia De Mexico
|July 1, 1987
Summary
Pulmonary embolism can cause unusual electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, including left axis deviation and low voltage. These findings, though rare, are important for diagnosing this critical condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Massive or submassive pulmonary thromboembolism can present with classic electrocardiographic abnormalities.
- These include S1Q3T3 pattern, right axis deviation, and right bundle branch block.
Observation:
- Left axis deviation due to pulmonary embolism was first described in 1949.
- This finding, along with low voltage in the frontal plane, has been reported occasionally but lacks widespread recognition.
Findings:
- A patient with no prior cardiac or pulmonary disease experienced massive pulmonary thromboembolism.
- Electrocardiography revealed left axis deviation and low voltage of the horizontal plane, attributed to the pulmonary thromboembolism.
Implications:
- The exact mechanisms causing these specific electrocardiographic changes in pulmonary embolism remain unknown.
- Given that electrocardiography is often nonspecific for pulmonary embolism, these less common findings can complicate diagnosis.
- Reporting these cases is crucial for improving diagnostic accuracy and clinical awareness of pulmonary thromboembolism.