2019 Plaque STEMI 
Ken Grauer, MD
FEBRUARY 3, 2024
Despite the absence of significant coronary stenosis on her post-arrest cath — the ECG in Figure-1 is clearly diagnostic of an extensive anterolateral STEMI ( presumably from acute LAD [ L eft A nterior D escending ] coronary artery occlusion). The rhythm in ECG #1 is regular and supraventricular at a rate of ~75/minute. What is M INOCA?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
NOVEMBER 15, 2023
MINOCA may be due to: coronary spasm, coronary microvascular dysfunction, plaque disruption, spontaneous coronary thrombosis/emboli , and coronary dissection; myocardial disorders, including myocarditis, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and other cardiomyopathies. Thus, intracoronary imaging modalities are crucial in this setting. From Gue at al.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
DECEMBER 19, 2023
The commonest causes of MINOCA include: atherosclerotic causes such as plaque rupture or erosion with spontaneous thrombolysis, and non-atherosclerotic causes such as coronary vasospasm (sometimes called variant angina or Prinzmetal's angina), coronary embolism or thrombosis, possibly microvascular dysfunction. It is not rare.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
NOVEMBER 30, 2022
To prove there is no plaque rupture, you need to do intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). An angiogram is a "lumenogram;" most plaque is EXTRALUMINAL!! One of the most common is rupture of a non-obstructive plaque, with thrombus formation and OMI that spontaneously lyses and leaves a wide open artery. It can only be seen by IVUS.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
NOVEMBER 4, 2022
This has been termed a “STEMI equivalent” and included in STEMI guidelines, suggesting this patient should receive dual anti-platelets, heparin and immediate cath lab activation–or thrombolysis in centres where cath lab is not available. aVR ST segment elevation: acute STEMI or not? Am J Med 2019, 132(5):622-630.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
OCTOBER 24, 2019
Here’s the angiogram of the RCA : No thrombus or plaque rupture in the RCA (or any coronary artery) was found. This MI wasn’t caused by a ruptured plaque of CAD - it was a coronary artery dissection of the RCA. A recent study found that SCAD causes almost 20% of STEMI in young women. JACC 2019 Sep 10;74(10):1290-1300.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
MARCH 8, 2019
This algorithm called it a STEMI. Yet it gave a diagnosis of STEMI. This is, in effect, a transient STEMI 2. See the learning points in that case == Comment by K EN G RAUER, MD ( 3/8/2019 ): == Superb teaching case presented by Dr. Smith regarding this middle-aged man who was transported to the ED after new-onset chest pain.
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