The Frank Vectorcardiogram in Mitral Stenosis

Abstract

The vectorcardiographic findings in 29 patients with mitral stenosis are presented. Five patients had normal QRS loops, and five had classical loops of right ventricular hypertrophy with predominant anterior forces. The remaining 19 patients had posteriorly oriented loops with normal rotation. The characteristics of these latter loops were analyzed in detail and compared with the findings in series of normal subjects. The midportions of the horizontal plane QRS loops were found to be significantly more posterior in orientation. Posterior voltage was increased while maximum QRS voltage was decreased. It was thought that the findings represent early right ventricular hypertrophy, and quantitative criteria to differentiate these loops from normal are suggested.

Vectorcardiographic Studies in Acquired Valvular Disease with Reference to the Diagnosis of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy

“…Although a number of studies have been made in mitral stenosis, the investigators have used the 12-lead electrocardiogram22-25 or the cube system,2629 and until recently there have been very few using the orthogonal lead systems. Taymor et al 30 reported the results of their vectorcardiographic studies in mitral stenosis using the Frank system. Their findings were similar to the data obtained in group I of our series.…”