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Abstract
Continuous vectorcardiography was registered before and during the first 18 hours after cardiac surgery in 53 patients. QRS vector changes (QRS-VD) occurred during the operation, but no further changes were observed postoperatively. The ST vector (ST-VM) increased during the operation, and a further slight increase occurred postoperatively. Perioperative myocardial infarction occurred in three patients. Their ST-VM was higher than the average in patients without myocardial infarction, while QRS-VD did not differ from the average pattern. Twelve other patients were studied in pacemaker-induced moderate tachycardia. QRS-VD increased in proportion to heart-rate changes (rs median=0.93, p<0.01). QRS-VD also correlated with myocardial oxygen uptake (rs median=0.62, p<0.05). The ST-VM responses were not uniform. The data suggest that vectorcardiogram variables can provide information related to myocardial energy metabolism.