The value of apexcardiography in cardiac diagnosis

Abstract

As can be seen from the aforementioned examples, apexcardiography may be helpful in cardiac diagnosis. It will, however, not yield much of value if done in isolation and with only an accompanying ECG. When it is part of a carefully chosen battery of noninvasive graphic records, the ACG may provide useful ancillary information in a variety of clinical situations. It should be recorded by a physician knowledgable concerning the patient's condition, so that the area most suitable for recording may be selected as well as an appropriate array of other graphic tracings. Care in the selection and periodic testing of equipment for adequacy of time constant and absence of air leaks in the system is necessary to guard against misleading distortions and artifacts.