Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 24, 2018

This is all but diagnostic of STEMI, probably due to wraparound LAD The cath lab was activated. This was clearly severe subepicardial ischemia causing ST Elevation, but it was not of a long enough duration to result in measurable infarct. Here is his triage ECG: There is massive STE in V3-V6, and also STE in II, III, aVF.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 13, 2020

Here is the EMS ECG: Obviously massive diffuse subendocardial ischemia, with profound STD and STE in aVR Of course this pattern is most often seen from etoliogies other than ACS. The ECG only tells you there is ischemia, not the etiology of it. Nevertheless, the clinical situation made other etiologies unlikely.

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EMS 12-Lead

AUGUST 14, 2022

[link] deWinter first reported his unique characteristics of LAD occlusion in 2008, and since the respective ECG changes do not fit the conventional STEMI paradigm (as he even stated – “instead of signature ST-segment elevation” ….) it has been subsequently deemed a STEMI-equivalent.

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EMS 12-Lead

APRIL 21, 2022

There is appreciable STE aVR with near-global STD that appropriately maximizes in Leads II and V5, and thus suggesting a circumstance of generic, diffusely populated, circumferential subendocardial ischemia versus occlusive coronary thrombus. [1] STEMI was activated and the patient went to Cath on arrival.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 8, 2023

Code STEMI was activated by the ED physician based on the diagnostic ECG for LAD OMI in ventricular paced rhythm. This was several months after the 2022 ACC Guidelines adding modified Sgarbossa criteria as a STEMI equivalent in ventricular paced rhythm). LAFB, atrial flutter, anterolateral STEMI(+) OMI. Limkakeng AT.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 16, 2020

So Shark Fin really is just a dramatic representation of STEMI, and can be in any coronary distribution. So this is STEMI, right? Our chief of cardiology, Gautam Shroff, interprets it differently and thinks this is indeed ischemia. It is often confused with a wide QRS due to conditions such as hyperkalemia. Which artery?

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EMS 12-Lead

MAY 20, 2022

There is broad subendocardial ischemia as demonstrated by STE aVR with concomitant STD that almost appears appropriately maximal in Leads II and V5. There is LBBB-like morphology with persistent patterns of subendocardial ischemia. This worried the crew of potential acute coronary syndrome and STEMI was activated pre-hospital.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 6, 2019

If it is STEMI, it would have to be RBBB with STEMI. Followup ECG: No Change Absence of evolution is the best evidence against ischemia as the etiology. I was taught that the tell-tale sign of ischemia vs an electrical abnormality was in the hx, i.e. chest pain for the ischemia and potential syncope for brugada.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Ischemia Myocardial Infarction 52

EMS 12-Lead

MAY 8, 2022

The attending crews were concerned for SVT with corresponding ischemic hyperacute T waves (HATW) and subsequently activated STEMI pre-hospital. Then, three minutes later… Crews activated STEMI as she deteriorated into PEA arrest. Chapter 6: Introduction to Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction. Wolters-Kluwer: Philadelphia, PA. [2]

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 15, 2019

A prehospital ECG was recorded (not shown and not seen by me) which was worrisome for STEMI. A previous ECG from 4 years prior was normal: This looks like an anterior STEMI, but it is complicated by tachycardia (which can greatly elevate ST segments) and by the presentation which is of fever and sepsis.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 9, 2018

Here it is: The computer reads STEMI What do you think? More from the medic: "LifePak 15 interpretation was STEMI. My response: "I think it is very worrisome for STEMI." It meets STEMI criteria even for a male under age 40, with STE 2.84 No history, meds, or risk factors. Pattern looked to be BER. mm in V2 and 4.08

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 3, 2018

Here is our abstract from SAEM 2018. The MSC were highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of ACO in patients presenting to the ED with VPR and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome. == MY Comment , by K EN G RAUER, MD ( 10/3 /2018 ): == How good are paced tracings for detecting ACO ( A cute C oronary O cclusion ) ?

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Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction STEMI Ischemia 52

EMS 12-Lead

JUNE 20, 2022

A prehospital STEMI activation was transmitted to the closest PCI center, and 324mg ASA was administered. The attending crews were concerned for an ACS-equivalent of LAD occlusion and initiated a prehospital STEMI activation to the closest PCI center. It’s important to stress the presence of a normal QRS (i.e., 3] Aslanger, E.,

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Ken Grauer, MD

JULY 15, 2023

Additional Teaching Points: Type-2 MI ( M yocardial I nfarction ) — is defined by an increase in troponin with evidence of ischemia that is not due acute coronary disease, but which instead results from a mismatch in oxygen supply and demand ( Smilowitz et al — Coron Artery Dis 29(1):46-52, 2018 ).

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 31, 2018

It is equivalent to a transient STEMI. Now you have ECG and troponin evidence of ischemia, AND ventricular dysrhythmia, which means this is NOT a stable ACS. It they are static, then they are not due to ischemia. This is better evidence for ischemia than any other data point. Again, cath lab was not activated. Hayes, S.N.,

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Dr. S. Venkatesan MD

AUGUST 19, 2024

Relationship between Ischemia and arrhythmia While the relationship between Ischemia and VT is really complex, the term “Ischemic VT” itself adds more twists. Even here, it is the associated factors, like hypoxia or acidosis are the triggers which of course are resultant of Ischemia. 2018 Jul;11(7):e006120.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

They recorded a prehospital ECG and diagnosed STEMI and activated the cath lab prehospital. This ST-T wave appearance in the lateral chest leads of ECG #2 is consistent with L V “ S train” vs ischemia. When medics arrived, he denied any chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations prior to the syncopal episode.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

These kinds of cases were excluded from the study as obvious anterior STEMI. --QTc Am J Cardiol 2018; 122(8):1303-1309. Case 1 Acute anterior STEMI from LAD occlusion, or Benign Early Repolarization (BER)? Appropriately, the physicians repeated the ECG 20 minutes later and it was diagnostic of anterior STEMI.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Normally, concavity in ST segments suggests absence of anterior ischemia (though concavity by itself is not reassuring - see this study ). In there ECG evidence of possible ongoing ischemia? (ie, IMPRESSION: I’d interpret this tracing as consistent with LVH and/or “strain” and/or ischemia. THANK YOU Dr. Lee!

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 6, 2024

Here, I do not see OMI (although the ECG is falsely STEMI positive with just over 1 mm STE in V1 and about 2.5 In the days before I learned to look for OMI, back when I was counting ST elevation boxes, I used to save ischemia for last.) I interpret tracings systematically in "real time" ( including my assessment for acute ischemia ).

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 6, 2019

This is technically a STEMI, with 1.5 However, I think many practitioners might not see this as a clear STEMI, and would instead call this "borderline." They collected several repeat ECGs at the outside hospital before transport: None of these three ECGs meet STEMI criteria. This ECG was recorded on arrival: What do you think?

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2018

But lead V2 has a worrisome amount of ST elevation, and in a chest pain patient, I would be worried about STEMI. My subjective interpretation, and that of Pierre's, is of LVH with secondary repolarization abnormalities, including pseudoSTEMI ST elevation in V1-V3. The Ratios of STE to S-wave: V1: 2.5/16

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 20, 2018

I know from reading your blog that you "diagnose pericarditis at your own peril", but are there any signs on that initial ECG that would make you think ischemia? Journal of Electrocardiology 2018. See this case: Pericarditis, or Anterior STEMI? "TnI peaked at 67.10 ng/mL post PCI." "I 0 0 1 24 140 MMRF 1 1 163 14.0

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 27, 2023

I knew that, if the patient had presented with chest discomfort, that this ECG is diagnostic of inferior posterior OMI, even though it is not a STEMI. In subendocardial ischemia, cath lab is indicated if the pain persists in spite of medical therapy (aspirin, anticoagulant, IV nitro). At 100 minutes, the above ECG was recorded.

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Chest Pain Ischemia Myocardial Infarction Blog 52

Ken Grauer, MD

JUNE 6, 2023

Part of the ST depression with deep T wave inversion in the lateral chest leads clearly reflects LV "strain" from the marked LVH — but despite the very large QRS amplitudes, this ST-T wave appearance looks disproportionate, suggesting at least a component of ischemia. Then there is the significant ST elevation we see in lead V1.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 11, 2018

This is of course diagnostic of an acute coronary occlusion MI (OMI) that also meets STEMI criteria. Comment by KEN GRAUER, MD ( 7/11/2018 ): = Insightful blog post by Dr. Smith regarding ECG criteria for recognizing acute RV involvement in patients with inferior STEMI. But which myocardial walls are affected?

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 6, 2018

He wrote in his note that "The EKG showed early repolarization in I, V2-V3 but no clear STEMI pattern." If the patient had been "lucky," his symptoms from the prior day might have been due to ischemia prolonged and intense enough to result in small troponin increase. Of the 418 patient with ACO, 29% did not meet “STEMI criteria.”

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 5, 2022

Despite the clinical context, Cardiology was consulted due to concerns for a "STEMI". Hyperkalemia mimics STEMI and OMI in many distributions, but probably the most common is the Brugada morphology in V1-V2 which mimics anterior OMI for those who cannot recognize the Brugada pattern. 72; Issue 9; 2018.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 1, 2023

Learning Points: Atrial flutter can be very tricky to identify, and can cause all kinds of problems such as mimicking or concealing ischemia and OMI. Is this inferor STEMI? Atrial Flutter with Inferior STEMI? Her rate control regimen was stabilized on carvedilol and diltiazem. She was discharged home.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 22, 2023

A prior ECG from 1 month ago was available: The presentation ECG was interpreted as STEMI and the patient was transferred emergently to the nearest PCI center. 72; Issue 9; 2018 ) — A ) Brugada-1 ECG pattern, showing coved ST-segment elevation ≥2 mm in ≥1 right precordial lead, followed by a negative T-wave. —

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 15, 2023

In other words, the inferior ST segments in the first ECG show more straightening which is more concerning for ischemia. In this context, patient pain free — post-PCI and with the previous ECGs in mind— the large inferior T waves represent reciprocal change from lateral reperfusion T waves and are not hyperacute T waves of ischemia.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 14, 2018

Wellens' syndrome represents the aftermath of an unrecorded occlusion (STEMI) with spontaneous reperfusion. This was my interpretation: although most ischemic T-wave inversion is post -ischemic like Wellens, sometime active ischemia results in isolated T-wave inversion. We assumed this was Wellens' syndrome and treated as such.

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EMS 12-Lead

APRIL 2, 2022

Figure 1-1 My colleague, a faithful student of ECG interpretation, handed me the tracing and said that it warranted STEMI activation because of apparent terminal QRS distortion (TQRSD) in V2. ASA 324mg was administered while a STEMI activation was simultaneously transmitted to the nearest PCI center. Attached is the first ECG.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 29, 2018

Here is a repeat ECG 45 minutes later with persistent chest pain: Obviously progressing into a clear STEMI. Meets formal STEMI criteria in V2-V3. Repeat ECGs make difficult decisions easier. -- Comment by K EN G RAUER, MD ( 12/29/2018 ): -- Superb case by Dr. Pendell Meyers, which highlights recognition of subtle acute findings.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 18, 2022

If you still have not read it, I strongly recommend that you read the following article on the diagnosis of "posterior" MI: Ischemic ST-Segment Depression Maximal in V1-V4 (Versus V5-V6) of Any Amplitude Is Specific for Occlusion Myocardial Infarction (Versus Nonocclusive Ischemia), by Meyers HP et al. J Am Heart Assoc. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.022866.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 30, 2019

2) The STE in V1 and V2 has an R'-wave and downsloping ST segments, very atypical for STEMI. Cardiology was consulted and they agreed that the EKG had an atypical morphology for STEMI and did not activate the cath lab. Smith comment: 1) Brugada ECG may have ST shifts in limb leads as well as precordial leads. Bicarb 20, Lactate 4.2,

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