Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 2, 2024

This was a machine read STEMI positive OMI. In this patient's case, the RV ischemia manifested as dramatic anterior hyperacute T waves. This degree of STE is a bit atypical for LAD ischemia. Written by Willy Frick A 50 year old man with no medical history presented with acute onset substernal chest pain. His ECG is shown below.

STEMI 119

STEMI Ischemia Blog Chest Pain 119

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 18, 2023

4,5] We have now formally studied this question: Emergency department Code STEMI patients with initial electrocardiogram labeled ‘normal’ by computer interpretation: a 7-year retrospective review.[6] have published a number of warnings about the previous reassuring studies.[4,5]

Chest Pain 119

Chest Pain STEMI Electrocardiogram Ischemia 119

Ken Grauer, MD

MAY 20, 2023

In the October 15, 2022 post of Dr. Smith's ECG Blog — Drs. Smith and Meyers in their October 15, 2022 post on Precordial Swirl. Figure-3: Selected sets of V1,V2 leads from the examples of Precordial Swirl provided in the October 15, 2022 post in Dr. Smith's ECG Blog. What is P recordial S wirl ?

Blog 144

Blog Chest Pain Ischemia STEMI 144

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 22, 2024

The fact that R waves 2 through 6 are junctional does make ischemia more difficult to interpret -- but not impossible. Back to the assessment of ischemia: Returning to the ECG, the leads that catch my eye first are -- I, II, V4, V5, V6. For national registry purposes, this will be incorrectly classified as a STEMI.) < 0.049).

Chest Pain 114

Chest Pain STEMI Bradycardia Ischemia 114

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 19, 2023

This is diagnostic of infero-posterior OMI, but it is falsely negative by STEMI criteria and with falsely negative posterior leads (though they do show mild ST elevation in V4R). They were less likely to have STEMI on ECG, and more likely to be initially diagnosed as non-ACS.

Chest Pain 98

Chest Pain STEMI Myocardial Infarction Blog 98

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 15, 2024

A prehospital “STEMI” activation was called on a 75 year old male ( Patient 1 ) with a history of hyperlipidemia and LAD and Cx OMI with stent placement. Whether these EKGs show myocarditis, a normal variant, or something else, they are overall not typical of transmural ischemia of the anterior or high lateral walls.

Chest Pain 116

Chest Pain STEMI Echocardiogram Stent 116

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

This suggests further severe ischemia. STEMI MINOCA versus NSTEMI MINOCA STEMI occurs in the presence of transmural ischaemia due to transient or persistent complete occlusion of the infarct-related coronary artery. This has resulted in an under-representation of STEMI MINOCA patients in the literature. From Gue at al.

Coronary Angiogram 109

Coronary Angiogram Plaque Thrombosis STEMI 109

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. His response: “subendocardial ischemia. Anything more on history? POCUS will be helpful.”

Ischemia 52

Ischemia STEMI Stenosis Chest Pain 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 3, 2022

Step 1 to missing posterior MI is relying on the STEMI criteria. A prospective validation of STEMI criteria based on the first ED ECG found it was only 21% sensitive for Occlusion MI, and disproportionately missed inferoposterior OMI.[1] But it is still STEMI negative. A 15 lead ECG was done (below). In a study last year, 14.4%

STEMI 52

STEMI Myocardial Infarction Chest Pain Ischemia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 21, 2024

The ECG shows obvious STEMI(+) OMI due to probable proximal LAD occlusion. There is no definite evidence of acute ischemia. (ie, Simply stated — t he patient was having recurrent PMVT without Q Tc prolongation, and without evidence of ongoing transmural ischemia. ( The below ECG was recorded.

Arrhythmia 131

Arrhythmia Cardiogenic Shock Bradycardia Defibrillator 131

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

It has been estimated that in the aggregate, they occur at a rate of about 3 per 1000 patients with acute MI, and most of these events occur in patients with STEMI. A mong patients with STEMI, ventricular septal rupture is the most common and free wall rupture is the least common.

Cardiogenic Shock 109

Cardiogenic Shock Pericarditis Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction 109

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 ).

Blog 111

Blog Ischemia Tachycardia STEMI 111

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 6, 2024

In any case, the ECG is diagnostic of severe ischemia and probably OMI. So this could be myocarditis but in my opinion needs an angiogram before making that diagnosis. == Dr. Nossen Comment/Interpretation: Evaluation of ischemia on an ECG can be very challenging. Concordant STE of 1 mm in just one lead or 2a.

Chest Pain 104

Chest Pain Ischemia Pericarditis Tachycardia 104

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

The baseline ECG is basically normal with no ischemia. You can see in the lead-specific analysis that she "sees" the STD in V5, V5, and II, with STE in aVR as signs of "Not OMI", because subendocardial ischemia pattern is not the same as OMI. In my opinion, I think it looks more like subendocardial ischemia. J Cardiol Cases.

Chest Pain 83

Chest Pain Cardiogenic Shock Ischemia Myocardial Infarction 83

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 14, 2023

My interpretation was: RBBB with hyperacute T-waves in V4-V6 that are all but diagnostic of LAD occlusion vs. post ROSC ischemia. As I emphasized in My Comment at the bottom of the page in the October 10, 2022 post in Dr. Smith's ECG Blog — Interpretation of a post-resuscitation ECG can be extremely challenging.

Cardiac Arrest 98

Cardiac Arrest Chest Pain Defibrillator Atrial Flutter 98

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 1, 2022

Here is his ECG: There is no clear evidence of OMI or ischemia. This is guideline approved by both ACC/AHA and by European guidelines. == Comment by K EN G RAUER, MD ( 6/1/2022 ): == I found serial evaluation of sequential tracings in today's case to be subtle — yet highly insightful.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Myocardial Infarction Bradycardia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 15, 2022

It is due to transmural ischemia not only of the anterior wall and apex, but due to transmural ischemia of the septum, usually due to occlusion proximal to the first septal perforator. As always, LAD OMI need not meet STEMI criteria and usually does NOT! Is this Acute Ischemia? The voltage is high but not huge.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Blog Ischemia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 4, 2024

QOH versions 1 and 2 both say Not OMI, with high confidence, without any clinical context, despite the abnormal STE meeting STEMI criteria. The ST/T wave ratio ( ie, the ratio of ST elevation compared to T wave amplitude ) in lead V6 is well over 0.24 ( See My Comment in the June 8, 2022 post for more on this Ratio ).

Pericarditis 117

Pericarditis Chest Pain Blog Aortic 117

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.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Ischemia Myocardial Infarction Blog 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 20, 2023

Since then, I started looking for OMI EKG findings and not just STEMI. Remember: these findings above are included as STEMI equivalent findings in the 2022 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on ACS Patients in the ED. mm in lead I, thus not STEMI criteria) and was finally understood by the cardiologist.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Blog Cholesterol 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

Does this mean that the ST depression in V3 represents "anterior" subendocardial ischemia, and not posterior OMI? This is most consistent with ischemia/infarction in the distribution of the left circumflex coronary artery. non-occlusive ischemia) 2. Thus, they have much less voltage. They have ZERO ST Elevation.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Blog Ischemia STEMI 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 22, 2022

The HEART and EDACS scores are helpful to risk stratify patients with chest pain, but they hinge on accurate ECG interpretation: a low score doesn’t apply if the ECG shows STEMI(+)OMI, and shouldn’t be used for STEMI(-)OMI or OMI reperfusion either 2. American Journal of Emergency Medicine 2022 4. Am J Med 2021 5.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Ischemia Myocardial Infarction Angina 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 14, 2024

Another missed OMI by the False STEMI-NonSTEMI Dichotomy Don't miss them!!! In addition — there is transmural ischemia of the septum , most often resulting from occlusion proximal to the 1st septal perforator branch of the LAD. Cath days later showed complete occlusion of the LAD, stented.

AFIB 105

AFIB Stent Stents Chest Pain 105

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.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction STEMI Pacemaker 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 14, 2022

I am going to code this as an acute STEMI as he had transient ST elevation which started to evolve in the emergency department but I think this is most appropriately termed STEMI." Is this Acute Ischemia? When is it anterior STEMI? Next day ECG: 2 Very instructive posts on LVH and OMI and Pseudo-OMI 1. More on LVH.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Blog Stenosis 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 17, 2023

The Queen of Hearts correctly says: Smith : Why is this ECG which manifests so much ST Elevation NOT a STEMI (even if it were a 60 year old with chest pain)? Physician interpretation: "No STEMI." Physician: "No STEMI." Cardiologist interpretation: "Technically does not meet STEMI criteria but concerning for ischemia."

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Document Ischemia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 6, 2023

I do not think this ECG is by itself diagnostic of OMI (full thickness, subepicardial ischemia ), b ut comparison to a previous might reveal this ECG as diagnostic of OMI. Immediate and early percutaneous coronary intervention in very high-risk and high-risk Non-STEMI patients. Lupu L, et al. mg/dL, K 3.5 Abstract 556.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Ischemia Myocardial Infarction ICU 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 10, 2022

While this ECG is negative for “posterior STEMI”, the resolution of anterior ST depression (accompanied by the troponin elevation) confirms posterior OMI with spontaneous reperfusion. The second opportunity to make the diagnosis and expedite angiography was missed because the ECG never met STEMI criteria and continued to be labeled ‘normal.’

STEMI 40

STEMI Myocardial Infarction Chest Pain Angina 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 13, 2022

But it doesn’t meet STEMI criteria, and was not identified by the computer or the over-reading cardiologist. Still no WPW pattern, and more obvious inferoposterior OMI, but still STEMI negative. 2] Conduction through the accessory pathway can be intermittent (with different degrees of pre-excitation), and affected by ischemia.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction Ischemia STEMI 52

Ken Grauer, MD

JULY 22, 2023

KEY Point: In areas of the heart where an acute STEMI produces ST elevation — reperfusion T waves ( that develop after the "culprit" artery reopens ) will appear as T wave inversion. ECG Blog #271 — Reviews determination of the ST segment baseline ( with discussion of the entity of diffuse Subendocardial Ischemia).

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Blog Chest Pain STEMI AFIB 78

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 10, 2022

In terms of ischemia, there is both a signal of subendocardial ischemia (STD max in V5-V6 with reciprocal STE in aVR) AND a signal of transmural infarction of the inferior wall with Q wave and STE in lead III with reciprocal STD in I and aVL. The rhythm is atrial fibrillation. The QRS complex is within normal limits.

Cardiac Arrest 52

Cardiac Arrest Chest Pain Embolism Pulmonary 52

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. BOTTOM Line: It can at times be extremely challenging to distinguish between anterior ST elevation from a benign Brugada Phenocopy pattern vs an acute anteroseptal STEMI.

Chest Pain 92

Chest Pain Heart Rhythm Sudden Cardiac Death Dysrhythmia 92

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

J Electrocardiol [Internet] 2022;Available from: [link] Cardiology opinion: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (EF 30-35%) V Fib Cardiac arrest Prolonged QTC NSTEMI (Smith comment: is it NSTEMI or is it Takotsubo? -- these are entirely different) Moderate single-vessel CAD. Reference on Troponins: Xenogiannis I, Vemmou E, Nikolakopoulos I, et al.

Plaque 52

Plaque Chest Pain Thrombosis Stenosis 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 18, 2022

So this relatively long QT interval is NOT due to ischemia but may be a result of CO Toxicity. Read more about CO poisoning and cardiac ischemia here (ECG is pasted below): What is the treatment for this subendocardial ischemia? Yelken B et al. Routine ECG recorded before hyperbaric therapy.Are they related?

Ischemia 52

Ischemia Blog Chest Pain Laboratory 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

Learning Points: Ectopic atrial rhythm can produce atrial repolarization findings that can be confused for acute ischemia, STEMI, or OMI. For readers not familiar with this format — I've reviewed its features in the Addendum at the bottom of the page in the April 24, 2022 post in Dr. Smith's ECG Blog.

Blog 52

Blog Bradycardia Ischemia Exercise 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

The ECG was incorrectly interpreted as no signs of ischemia. Diagnosis: Acute non-ST segment elevation MI (Non-STEMI, or NSTEMI) Second troponin returned at around 0200: 15,894 ng/L 0245 (unclear if ongoing pain or not) Inferoposterior (and lateral V5-6) reperfusion findings.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Physiology Blog Stent 52

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. 2022 Mar-Apr;71:44-46.

Myocardial Infarction 40

Myocardial Infarction Chest Pain Blog Echocardiogram 40