Análise crítica do eletrocardiograma e do ecocardiograma na detecção da hipertrofia ventricular esquerda Critical review of the electrocardiogram and echocardiogram on the diagnosis of the left ventricular hypertrophy

Electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (Echo) are two useful exams for the diagnosis of cardiac hypertrophy. However, each one of them have some peculiar details. ECG is an affordable exam, deeply used and with easy interpreta- tion of its results, also with great reproduction, although may have low sensibility to diagnose hypertrophy. Even though Echo may have good sensibility, he has as a disavantage its high cost, and its reproduction is still defective, being very dependent observer on the calculation of the mass on the left ventricle. Although these are important details, those are exams used as complements and considered indispensables on the evaluation of the hypertensive patient.