Abstract

RUIZ SERRANO, Antonio; IBANEZ TORRES, Juan Carlos; POLO ESPINOSA, José Luis  and  BURGO FERNANDEZ, José Luis del. Electrical alternans. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2010, vol.3, n.1, pp.54-56. ISSN 2386-8201.

One of the causes of electrical alternans (AE) in the electrocardiogram (ECG) is the swaying or mechanical oscillation of the heart in the pericardial sac when there is pericardial effusion. Although AE is one of the symptoms of pericardial effusion it could go unnoticed. It is important, therefore, to bear it in mind so as not to overlook non-specific, poorly expressed symptoms, because cardiac tamponade may be life threatening for the patient. In addition to the classical clinical signs, the use of basic echocardiography in Primary Care could help with the diagnosis.

Keywords : Electrical Alternans; Pericardial Efusión; Electrocardiography.

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