Electrocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of right ventricular involvement in the setting of acute inferior infarction.

Surface electrocardiograph of twelve cases of isolated left ventricular inferior infarction and 24 cases of biventricular inferior infarction confirmed by two-dimensional echocardiography were analysed. ST segment elevation in lead III more than in lead II and ST segment depression in leads I and aVL were highly sensitive in diagnosing right ventricular involvement. ST segment depression in lead V3 equal to or greater than ST segment elevation in lead III was highly specific but had low sensitivity. These findings can be helpful in cases where right sided chest leads have not been recorded or are inconclusive.