Zeitschrift für Kardiologie
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One hundred and fifty-two patients underwent cardiac catheterization and coronary arteriography within 6.3 +/- 6.0 hours from onset of acute myocardial infarction. All had a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram recorded within 1.5 hours of cardiac catheterization. The electrocardiographic abnormalities present were correlated with the infarct related artery as determined by coronary arteriography. ⋯ Fifty-six percent of patients with CX artery as the infarct related artery presented with non-classical electrocardiographic abnormalities. The electrocardiographic pattern in patients with subtotal occlusions were similar to those of patients with total occlusions. Thus the electrocardiogram obtained in the first few hours of acute myocardial infarction is reliable in localizing the LAD as the infarct related artery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)