Total electrical alternans in a patient with tuberculous pericarditis
Pudifin, D.
South African Medical Journal 50(32): 1249-1251
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 968671 Document Number: 96709
Total electrical alternans is an uncommon electrocardiographic abnormality in which alternation in the direction and/or amplitude of all the components (P, QRS and T) of the tracing is present. The phenomenon is seen only in association with occasional cases of pericaditis with large effusion's. Knowledge of this fact may help in the often difficult differentiation between a pericardial effusion and cardiomyopathy. An illustrative case report is presented, with a résumé of the mechanisms postulated to explain total electrical alternans.