Experiences with different computerprograms for the ECG-analysis.

As the use of computers for ECG-analysis has left the stage of laboratory investigation, and different systems are offered by industrial firms with high grade promises concerning their reliability, it seemed about time to perform an evaluation of the programs available. Each ECG of 252 adult patients was recorded in one session from adhesive electrodes within 10 minutes on the magnetic tapes of the data-acquisition-units of four different manufacturers. The computer-analysis of each of these ECGs was done by six programs of Pordy (Mt. Sinai-Hospital, New York), Caceres, Smith (Mayo Clinic, Rochester), Arvedson, Riedl with modified criteria of the USPHS and Riedl with criteria of the Minnesota-code. Besides this each ECG was also analysed in the conventional way by each of the three cardiologists involved in this study. The results of the computers' and the physicians' analysis concerning rhythm, extrasystoles, infarctions and ST-T-segment-variations are demonstrated and discussed.