Dextrocardia is a congenital condition in which the heart is located on the right side of the chest instead of the left. This abnormal position changes the heart’s electrical and anatomical orientation, causing characteristic changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG).

Electrocardiographic Findings

  • Negative P wave and QRS complex in lead I and positive in aVR
  • Tall R wave in V1 and V2
  • Decreasing QRS amplitude from V1 to V6

ECG in Dextrocardia

Electrocardiogram showing dextrocardia

Dextrocardia. A negative P wave and QRS complex in lead I with positive deflections in aVR may be mistaken for limb lead reversal. However, the decreasing QRS amplitude from V1 to V6 suggests the electrocardiographic diagnosis of dextrocardia.

Electrocardiogram showing dextrocardia

Corrected dextrocardia. ECG recorded after repositioning the electrodes for dextrocardia.

References

  1. Scheffer MK, De Marchi MFN, de Alencar Neto JN, Felicioni SP. Eletrocardiograma de A a Z. São Paulo: Manole, 2024.