What finding would you expect in a patient with left ventricular hypertrophy on an EKG?

In patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), you would expect to see increased voltage in the QRS complexes on an EKG. This occurs because the left ventricle becomes enlarged and its muscle mass increases, leading to greater electrical activity that is recorded on the EKG. Specifically, the depth and height of the QRS complexes in the limb leads and precordial leads can show significant amplification, reflecting the thicker muscular walls of the left ventricle.

Interpreting this change helps in diagnosing LVH, as clinicians look for voltage criteria such as the Sokolow-Lyon criteria, which considers the amplitude of the QRS complexes in various leads. Therefore, recognizing increased voltage in the QRS complexes serves as a critical indicator of LVH on an EKG.