Remove 2020 Remove Pericarditis Remove STEMI
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31 Year Old Male with RUQ Pain and a History of Pericarditis. Submitted by a Med Student, with Great Commentary on Bias!

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Here is his initial ED ECG: The R-wave in V4 extends to 33 mm, the computerized QTc is 372 ms The only available previous ECG is from one year ago, during the admission when he was diagnosed with pericarditis: 1 year ago ECG, with clinician and computer interpretatioin of pericarditis Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE What do you think?

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Quiz post: 2 similar patients with similar ECGs. Which, if any, or both, are OMI? Will you outperform the Queen of Hearts?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Here they are: Patient 1, ECG1: Zoll computer algorithm stated: " STEMI , Anterior Infarct" Patient 2, ECG1: Zoll computer algorithm stated: "ST elevation, probably benign early repolarization." He diagnosed anterior "STEMI" and activated the cath lab. 25 minutes later, EMS called back with this new ECG: Super obvious STEMI(+) OMI.

STEMI 125
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Occlusion myocardial infarction is a clinical diagnosis

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Recall from this post referencing this study that "reciprocal STD in aVL is highly sensitive for inferior OMI (far better than STEMI criteria) and excludes pericarditis, but is not specific for OMI." St depression in lead AVL differentiates inferior st-elevation myocardial infarction from pericarditis. The case continues.

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A 53 yo woman with cardiogenic shock. Believe me, this is not what you think.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

So Shark Fin really is just a dramatic representation of STEMI, and can be in any coronary distribution. So this is STEMI, right? Well, don't we see diffuse ST Elevation in Myo-pericarditis (with STD in aVR)? It is often confused with a wide QRS due to conditions such as hyperkalemia. Which artery? Could this be myopericarditis?

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Three prehospital ECGs in patients with chest pain

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

These latter findings are typical of pericarditis, but pericarditis never has reciprocal ST depression. It definitely does not fulfill STEMI criteria, and I would argue that it would not lead to cath lab activation in most centers. Usually with pericarditis and myocarditis — hyperacute T waves (HATW) are not present.

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A middle aged female with "heartburn" and a "normal ECG" per the computer

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

This ECG clearly meets STEMI criteria by the way, regardless of age or gender. Haven't you been taught that this favors pericarditis? Weren't you taught that concave morphology favors pericarditis? This is a high troponin (most STEMI are above 10 ng/mL for troponin I). There is no STE or STD in III an aVF.

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Cardiologist declines taking patient to the cath lab. Patient dies.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

As always, takotsubo cardiomyopathy and focal pericarditis can mimic OMI, but takotsubo almost never mimics posterior MI, and both are diagnoses of exclusion after a negative cath. The provider contacted cardiology to discuss the case, but cardiology "didn't think it was a STEMI, didn't think he needed emergent cath." Canto et al.