Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 31, 2024

The interventional cardiologist then canceled the activation and returned the patient to the ED without doing an angiogram ("Not a STEMI"). I advised that perhaps posterior leads would help to persuade the interventionalist, since the 2022 ACC recommendations include posterior STEMI as a formal STEMI equivalent, but only officially by 0.5

Chest Pain 112

Chest Pain STEMI Ischemia Myocardial Infarction 112

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 19, 2024

The patient presented to an outside hospital An 80yo female per triage “patient presents with chest pain, also hurts to breathe” PMH: CAD, s/p stent placement, CHF, atrial fibrillation, pacemaker (placed 1 month earlier), LBBB. Most large STEMI have peak troponin I in the 20.0 This was stented with a 2.25 Next trop in AM.

Chest Pain 113

Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction Stents Stent 113

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 1, 2023

A man in his mid 60s with history of CAD and stents experienced sudden onset epigastric abdominal pain radiating up into his chest at home, waking him from sleep. She knows the baseline is normal, and she knows the STEMI(-) OMI one is diagnostic of OMI, with the highest possible confidence. It is stented with good angiographic result.

Stents 129

Stents Stent STEMI Physiology 129

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 11, 2024

Now it is a full blown STEMI of 3 myocardial territories: inferior, posterior, and lateral But at least it does not call it "Normal." Successful drug-eluting stent placement opening up 95% mid RCA stenosis to 0% residual Nonobstructive left system disease. We have shown many examples of this on this blog.

Chest Pain 114

Chest Pain STEMI Blog Exercise 114

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 23, 2023

Notice on the right side of the image how the algorithm correctly measures STE sufficient in V1 and V2 to meet STEMI criteria in a man older than age 40. As most would agree, this ECG shows highly specific findings of anterolateral OMI, even with STEMI criteria in this case. Thus, this is obvious STEMI(+) OMI until proven otherwise.

Chest Pain 98

Chest Pain STEMI Blog Stents 98

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 29, 2024

Triage ECG: It was interpreted as lateral STEMI, and he was sent to the cath lab, where the angiogram showed unchanged CAD from known prior, with no acute culprit. His disease included 70% prox LAD, 80% distal LAD, 10% in-stent stenosis in the distal LCX, 70% OM1, 70% OM2, and 60% prox RCA. Described as a dull ache, 6/10 in severity.

Chest Pain 117

Chest Pain STEMI Pericarditis Stents 117

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 6, 2010

This is all suggestive of posterior STEMI, but not definitely diagnostic. mm in only one posterior lead is highly sensitive and specific for posterior STEMI). Two stents were placed. ST depression in V1-V4, isolated, may be either posterior STEMI or NSTEMI. The ECG normalized overnight. Maximum troponin was 2.1

STEMI 52

STEMI Chest Pain Ultrasound Blood Pressure 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 8, 2024

Subtle as a STEMI." (i.e., She was taken to the cath lab, where she was found to have 100% in-stent restenosis of the proximal LAD. In our study, there were 20/53 complete LAD OMI (TIMI-0 flow) which did not meet STEMI criteria. None of the 20 ever evolved to STEMI criteria. This one is easy for the Queen.

Cardiac Arrest 124

Cardiac Arrest Myocardial Infarction STEMI Cardiogenic Shock 124

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 11, 2024

While STEMI negative, the ECG is diagnostic of proximal LAD occlusion. Transient STEMI” are often managed like non-STEMI with delayed angiography, which is very risky. Cath lab was activated, and found a 95% proximal LAD occlusion which was stented. It’s unclear if the paramedic ECGs were seen or missed in the ED.

Chest Pain 101

Chest Pain STEMI Bradycardia Article 101

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 20, 2024

This was sent by an undergraduate (not yet in medical school, but applying now) who works as an ED technician (records all EKGs, helps with procedures, takes vital signs) and who reads this blog regularly. This was a presumed culprit and a stent was placed. Edited by Smith He also sent me this great case.

Chest Pain 127

Chest Pain Blood Pressure Ischemia STEMI 127

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 22, 2024

This is documented as a STEMI in the clinical notes and in the cath report, but certainly does not meet STEMI criteria and is therefore an NSTEMI by definition. For national registry purposes, this will be incorrectly classified as a STEMI.) Most STEMI have peak cTnI greater than 10.0. Large STEMI are approximately 30-80.

Chest Pain 116

Chest Pain STEMI Bradycardia Ischemia 116

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 22, 2022

The lesion was successfully stented. Take home messages: 1- In STEMI/NSTEMI paradigm you search for STE on ECG. If this patient was managed according to the STEMI/NSTEMI paradigm (although he would be a candidate for early invasive treatment), he would probably be taken to the cath lab hours later. Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars.

STEMI 52

STEMI Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction Electrocardiogram 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

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 127

STEMI Chest Pain Blog Pericarditis 127

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 22, 2024

Patient still not having chest pain however this is more concerning for OMI/STEMI. Wellens' syndrome is a syndrome of Transient OMI (old terminology would be transient STEMI). As far as I can tell, there is only one randomized trial of immediate vs. delayed intervention for transient STEMI. Labs ordered but not yet drawn.

Chest Pain 119

Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction Anatomy Angina 119

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 28, 2023

Only very slight STE which does not meet STEMI criteria at this time. I am immediately worried that this OMI will not be understood, for many reasons including lack of sufficient STE for STEMI criteria, as well as the common misunderstanding of "no reciprocal findings" which is very common with this particular pattern.

STEMI 52

STEMI Chest Pain Stents Stent 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 19, 2023

This ECG was read as “No STEMI” with no prior available for comparison. It is true this ECG does not meet STEMI criteria (there is 1.0 The Queen of Hearts sees it of course: Still none of these three ECGs meet STEMI criteria. Two stents were placed with resultant TIMI 3 flow. What do you think? Of course not.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Cardiogenic Shock Bradycardia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 15, 2019

Over the next few hours, four other general cardiologists "signed off on the initial ECG without recognizing STEMI." They found 100% acute mid-LAD Occlusion MI, stented with excellent angiographic result. Learning Points: STEMI criteria misses 25-40% of OMI, like this case for example. mm of the "required" 1.0

STEMI 52

STEMI Chest Pain Risk Factors Anatomy 52

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. The two cases were considered: Patient 1 was recognized by the ED provider and the cardiologist as having resolved “STEMI”. It was stented. This was a large OMI.

Chest Pain 117

Chest Pain STEMI Echocardiogram Stents 117

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 26, 2011

Echo on the day after admission showed EF of 30-35% and antero-apical wall akinesis with an LV thrombus [these frequently form in complete or near complete (no early reperfusion) anterior STEMI because of akinesis/stasis] 2 more days later, this was recorded: ST elevation is still present. An open 90% LAD was stented.

STEMI 52

STEMI Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction Angioplasty 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 11, 2023

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." Here is the angiogram after stent placement. Immediate versus delayed invasive intervention for non-stemi patients. Marinkovic, J.,

Myocardial Infarction 124

Myocardial Infarction Chest Pain STEMI Blood Pressure 124

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 13, 2024

This ECG is highly concerning for LAD occlusion despite it not showing a STEMI criteria. You can find the variables used to calculate the value on MD calc here: [link] Utilizing Dr. Smith’s Subtle Anterior STEMI Calculator (4-Variable), the value is greater than 18.2 The culprit mid LAD lesion was stented.

Chest Pain 121

Chest Pain STEMI Ultrasound Heart Attack 121

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

She was treated for NonSTEMI with antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents and went to cath the next day, where an where multiple LAD thrombi were found and the lesion will be stented. Waiting to cath a transient STEMI can be hazardous. See this case in which I made that mistake. Learning Points: 1.

Chest Pain 122

Chest Pain STEMI Stents Stent 122

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 8, 2016

Here is his ED ECG: There is obvious infero-posterior STEMI. What are you worried about in addition to his STEMI? This was stented. Comments: STEMI with hypokalemia, especially with a long QT, puts the patient at very high risk of Torsades or Ventricular fibrillation (see many references, with abstracts, below).

STEMI 52

STEMI Myocardial Infarction Cardiac Arrest Arrhythmia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

I would expect that a stent would be placed. The angiogram showed an open artery with 95% stenosis and thrombosis and it was stented. Quiz : What percent of full blown STEMI have an open artery with normal flow at angiogram? It too is "normal" and you decide that this is not OMI or STEMI and you just decide to get troponins.

Chest Pain 98

Chest Pain STEMI Stents Stent 98

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

At 2111, the troponin I peaked at 12.252 ng/mL (this is in the range of STEMI patients, quite high). RAO Caudal View Post PCI This is the RAO Caudal view after thrombectomy and stent placement. Regular readers of this ECG Blog will be well familiar with many of these points. RAO Caudal view: This is the RAO Caudal view.

Chest Pain 121

Chest Pain Blog Hospital Tachycardia 121

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 5, 2023

Here it is: Obvious Inferior Posterior STEMI (+) OMI. Initial troponin was: 3 ng/L We showed that the first troponin in acute STEMI is often negative in at least 27%. It must have re-occluded between the ED and the cath lab) --Lesion was stented. Aside on ECG Research: 20% of Definite diagnostic STEMI (Cox et al.)

Chest Pain 96

Chest Pain STEMI Physiology Stents 96

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 20, 2017

Validation of the Modified Sgarbossa Rule for Diagnosis of STEMI in the Presence of Left Bundle Branch Block. There is no ST depression in lead I, which suggests a circumflex lesion The cath lab was activated and a circumflex occlusion was opened and stented, with a door to balloon time of 3 hours. Limkakeng AT. Theiling BJ.

STEMI 52

STEMI Chest Pain Stents Stent 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 6, 2024

The door to balloon time was incredibly short and there was a 100% circumflex occlusion that was opened and stented. The Non-STEMI, which was an OMI, was diagnosed much faster with AI on the ECG than with troponin. For more on ECG findings in pulmonary disease — Check out My Comment in the May 31, 2024 post in Dr. Smith's ECG Blog ).

Hospital 79

Hospital Chest Pain Blog Pulmonary 79

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 5, 2024

Evidence regarding intervention to non-culprit plaques is mixed and beyond the scope of this blog post. On the combined basis of angiography and IVUS, this patient received stents to his mid RCA, proximal PDA, and OM. RCA and PDA before and after, arrows indicating stented regions. Heitner et al. DOI:10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.118.007305),

Angina 122

Angina Plaque Document Stents 122

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 29, 2015

would require the ST/S ratio to be 25% for diagnosis of STEMI in LVH. The physician was concerned about STEMI, but also worried that she was overreacting, with the potential that LVH was producing a "STEMI-mimic." Can you diagnose an ACO (STEMI) when you also have LVH? The criteria of Armstrong et al. References 1.

STEMI 40

STEMI Myocardial Infarction Chest Pain Aneurysm 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 19, 2023

Unfortunately, we do not have those images for review, but the operators described a ruptured LAD plaque and they stented this area, which ensures the stability of the plaque. The image on the left shows the LAD before intervention, and the red circled portion on the right indicates the stented region. A picture is worth 1,000 words.

Plaque 128

Plaque Angina Blog Stents 128

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

OCTOBER 24, 2018

This is all but diagnostic of STEMI, probably due to wraparound LAD The cath lab was activated. It was stented. These include: i ) appreciation of how problematic the definition of “acute STEMI” can be; and , ii ) illustration of how dependence on this definition may result in overlooking acute coronary occlusion.

STEMI 40

STEMI Angina Myocardial Infarction Plaque 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

He reports that this chest pain feels different than prior chest pain when he had his STEMI/OMI, but is unable to further describe chest pain. Sensitivity was 87% for OMI in our validation study (it was 34% for STEMI criteria). He has a h/o of 3 vessel disease and stents and his pain has been on and off for days.

Chest Pain 137

Chest Pain Defibrillator STEMI Coronary Artery Disease 137

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 2, 2009

reports MI in 2001 with a stent placed in the "marginal" artery. First, this patient had a known stent in the "marginal" artery and thought he was having a heart attack. By definition, this is a non-STEMI because there is not 1 mm of ST elevation in 2 consecutive leads. Pain is similar, but associated with less SOB.

Heart Attack 52

Heart Attack Heart attacks STEMI Echocardiogram 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 18, 2012

This is typical for subendocardial ischemia, not STEMI, and often means left main ischemia or 3 vessel ischemia. Right sided ECGs are best recorded in the context of inferior STEMI. Because of precordial ST depression, clinicians were also worried about posterior STEMI. A right sided ECG was recorded 3 minutes later.

STEMI 52

STEMI Ischemia Chest Pain Stents 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 1, 2013

Precordial ST depression may be subendocardial ischemia or posterior STEMI. If you thought it might be a posterior STEMI, then you might have ordered a posterior ECG [change leads V4-V6 around to the back (V7-V9)]. So there was 3-vessel disease, but with an acute posterior STEMI. There is no ST elevation. See the list below.

STEMI 52

STEMI Ischemia Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction 52