Open AccessLimb leads of the electrocardiogram: Sequencing revisited
Author(s) -
Dower G. E.,
Nazzal S. B.,
Bullington D.,
Pahlm O.,
Haistey W. K.,
Marriott H. L.,
Bullington R. H.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960130508
Subject(s) - medicine , sequence (biology) , vectorcardiography , interpolation (computer graphics) , artificial intelligence , cardiology , electrocardiography , computer science , motion (physics) , genetics , biology
The six limb leads are normally presented in a format the logic of which is traditional rather than anatomical and does not allow visual interpolation such as is customary with the six chest leads. The sequence: aVL, I, ‐aVR, II, aVF, III was suggested years ago, and is used in some European countries, particularly Sweden. It provides a better impression of the extent of the changes of inferior infarction and makes the rather neglected lead aVR much more useful, though reversed in polarity. It also provides a more direct indication of the electrical axis, and simplifies comparisons with the frontal plane vectorcardiogram. Because modern digital electrocardiographs can provide the sequenced format, this seems a good time to review the advantages of adopting it.