Lack of superiority of the vectorcardiogram over the electrocardiogram in detecting inferior wall myocardial infarction regardless of time since infarction.

Using more recent VCG and ECG criteria, the relative accuracy of these two tests in detecting inferior wall MI over time was evaluated in 38 of 236 patients undergoing elective left ventriculographic and coronary angiographic studies who had clinical plus angiographic evidence of inferior wall myocardial infarction. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the ECG criteria of the New York Heart Association and Warner did not differ from that of the VCG criteria of Starr and Takatsu. There was a trend toward decreased sensitivity in both VCG criteria and the ECG criterion of Warner in detecting inferior wall myocardial infarction greater than or equal to 18 months, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. Changing the age of infarction to greater than or equal to 3, greater than or equal to 6, greater than or equal to 12, or greater than or equal to 24 months did not yield a different result. It is concluded that VCG is not superior to ECG in the diagnosis of inferior wall MI regardless of time since occurrence of infarction.