A new computer program for the analysis of pediatric scalar electrocardiograms

✍ Scribed by David B. Francis; B.Lynn Miller; D.Woodrow Benson Jr.

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 806 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0010-4809
• DOI: 10.1016/0010-4809(81)90041-0

✦ Synopsis

The authors report the development and evaluation of a computer program for analysis of pediatric scalar electrocardiograms. The program is an extension of the existing IBM 5890 ECG Analysis Program. It includes extensive age-dependent criteria and tables of limits for ECG parameters. Special pediatric correlative statements are incorporated to direct physician attention to combinations of electrocardiographic findings which may indicate congenital abnormality. The program permits the use of alternate precordial leads V,a, V,,, and V, in addition to the standard V, to V6. The evaluation shows the program to be 96.8% sensitive and 88.3% specific in detecting abnormal rhythms; a sensitivity of 99.8% and specificity of %.O% were obtained for detection of abnormalities affecting ECG contour. Program performance is apparently insensitive to choice of precotdial leads, but dependent on patient age, improving as age increases.