[Diagnostic information content of electrocardiographic signs of myocardial scars in ischemic heart disease].

A study was made of 326 cases with scars of the myocardium more than 5 mm in size and of 697 cases without any scars. The ECG changes were classified according to the Minnesota Code. Among cased in which scars were found on autopsy, the ECG had made it possible to establish (by WHO criteria) myocardial infarction in 34%, other chronic forms of ischemic heart disease in 35%, miscellaneous changes in 26%, and showed no changes in 5% of cases. The sensitivity of the electrocardiographic method in revealing myocardial scars proved to be low: the frequency of false-negative results according to any of the signs exceeded 30% in transmural scars and 60% in non-transmural scars. The most valuable diagnostic information was yielded by Q and QS waves (Codes I-1 and I-2), artial fibrillation, changes in T waves (Code V-2) and total block of the left branch of the bundle of His (in diminishing succession).