Normal esophageal and gastric electrocardiograms; description, statistical analysis and bearing on theories of "electrocardiographic position."

An analysis of normal esophageal and gastric electrocardiograms is presented. Some standards of abnormality in the literature are found to be unacceptable, principally with reference to Q and the diagnosis of infarction. The study of leads facing the dorsal and diaphragmatic cardiac surfaces seems to be a suitable test of current concepts of "electrocardiographic position." Some of these concepts are supported by this study, but others are questioned.