Aortic insufficiency Electrocardiogram


 * Associate Editor-in-Chief:, Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S., Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Overview
Electrocardiogram may be used as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of aortic insufficiency. ECG findings associated with aortic insufficiency include left ventricular hypertrophy and left axis deviation.

Electrocardiogram
In aortic insufficiency, the electrocardiographic findings are nonspecific. However, the following may be noted:


 * Left ventricular hypertrophy


 * Left axis deviation


 * Left atrial enlargement
 * Left ventricular volume overload pattern (prominent Q waves in leads I, aVL, and V3 to V6 and relatively small r waves in V1)
 * Left ventricular conduction defects (typically late in the disease process)
 * Repolarization abnormalities
 * ST-segment depression in precordial leads