ECG Cases 48 – ECG Interpretation in Cardiac Arrest
ECG Cases
FEBRUARY 13, 2024
The post ECG Cases 48 – ECG Interpretation in Cardiac Arrest appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Brachial artery approach for managing retroperitoneal bleed following coronary intervention for STEMI
The British Journal of Cardiology
NOVEMBER 29, 2023
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) remains the gold-standard treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We present the case of a man in his 50s, admitted with cardiac arrest secondary to inferolateral STEMI.
STEMI 
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A man in his 50s with unwitnessed VF arrest, defibrillated to ROSC, and no STEMI criteria on post ROSC ECG. Should he get emergent angiogram?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JULY 9, 2024
Written by Pendell Meyers A man in his 50s was found by his family in cardiac arrest of unknown duration. Despite anticipation by many that the initial post-resuscitation ECG will show an obvious acute infarction — this expected "STEMI picture" is often not seen.
Defibrillator 101
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Resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation. Should the cath lab be activated?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JULY 25, 2024
But cardiac arrest is a period of near zero flow in the coronary arteries and causes SEVERE ischemia. After cardiac arrest, I ALWAYS wait 15 minutes after an ECG like this and record another. See these related cases: Cardiac arrest, defibrillated, diffuse ST depression and ST Elevation in aVR.
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Guidelines would (erroneously) say that this patient who was defibrillated and resuscitated does not need emergent angiography
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JUNE 27, 2024
A patient had a cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation and was successfully defibrillated. COACT: The COACT trial was fatally flawed, and because of it, many cardiologists are convinced that if there are no STEMI criteria, the patient does not need to go to the cath lab. These studies did not address OMI ECG findings!!!
How will you save this critically ill patient? A fundamental and lifesaving ECG interpretation that everyone must recognize instantly.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
A woman in her 50s with dyspnea and bradycardia A patient with cardiac arrest, ROSC, and right bundle branch block (RBBB). HyperKalemia with Cardiac Arrest. Peaked T waves: Hyperacute (STEMI) vs. Early Repolarizaton vs. Hyperkalemia What will you do for this altered and bradycardic patient?
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Unconscious + STEMI criteria: activate the cath lab?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JANUARY 21, 2023
ECG met STEMI criteria and was labeled STEMI by computer interpretation. J waves can also be induced by Occlusion MI (5), STEMI mimics including takotsubo and myocarditis complicated by ventricular arrhythmias (6, 7), and subarachnoid hemorrhage with VF (8). Take home : Not all STEs are STEMIs or OMIs. What do you think?
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Cardiac arrest, LBBB with STEMI on the ECG, but no Acute Coronary Syndrome!
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
This 80 year old with a history of CABG had a cardiac arrest. This is as clear a STEMI as you can get. Now, it is true that shortly after a non-ACS cardiac arrest, there can be transient diffuse ST depression, but not ST elevation in a coronary distribution, and there should not be a wall motion abnormality.
ECG Blog #415 — The Cath showed NO Occlusion!
Ken Grauer, MD
FEBRUARY 3, 2024
Shortly after arrival in the ED ( E mergency D epartment ) — she suffered a cardiac arrest. BUT — Cardiac catheterization done a little later did not reveal any significant stenosis. Figure-1: The initial ECG in today's case — obtained after successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest. ( No CP ( C hest P ain ).
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Extreme shock and cardiac arrest in COVID patient
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
In a series of 18 patients with COVID and ST elevation, 8 were diagnosed with STEMI, 6 of whom had an angiogram and it showed obstructive coronary disease. 12 All STEMI patients had very high cTn typical of STEMI (cTnT > 1.0
Angiography-Derived Index of Microcirculatory Resistance to Define the Risk of Early Discharge in STEMI
Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions
FEBRUARY 20, 2024
NH-IMRangiowas calculated based on standard coronary angiographic views with 3-dimensional-modeling and computational analysis of the coronary flow.RESULTS:Overall, ECC (a composite of cardiovascular death, cardiogenic shock, acute heart failure, life-threatening arrhythmias, resuscitated cardiac arrest, left ventricular thrombus, post-ST-segment–elevation (..)
A man in his 50s with acute chest pain who is lucky to still be alive.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JUNE 21, 2023
You can subscribe for news and early access (via participating in our studies) to the Queen of Hearts here: [link] queen-form This EMS ECG was transmitted to the nearby Emergency Department where it was remotely reviewed by a physician, who interpreted it as normal, or at least without any features of ischemia or STEMI.
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ECG Blog #434 — WHY Did this Patient Arrest?
Ken Grauer, MD
JUNE 14, 2024
The ECG in Figure-1 — was obtained from a middle-aged man who presented to the ED ( E mergency D epartment ) in cardiac arrest. Prompt cath is therefore advised if the post-ROSC shows an acute STEMI. To Emphasize: The phenomenon of T-QRS-D is not needed in today's case to recognize the acute STEMI.
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Missed myocardial infarction with subsequent cardiac arrest
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
OCTOBER 24, 2013
Appreciation of these subtle ECG findings could have helped to avoid a cardiac arrest and its resulting permanent disability 3. Ischemia on the ECG can be very subtle and is easily missed. Accurate interpretation requires a lot of skill, practice, and experience.
A Patient with Cocaine Chest Pain and Prehospital Computer interpretation of STEMI
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JANUARY 25, 2017
911 was called and the medics recorded this ECG (unfortunately, leads V4-V6 are missing) Due to marked ST Elevation, the computer read was STEMI What do you think? See this post and associated case reports: Cardiac arrest, severe acidosis, and a bizarre ECG The patient was admitted and ruled out for acute MI by serial troponins.
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A 40-something presented after attempted prehospital resuscitation with persistent Ventricular Fibrillation
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JULY 14, 2023
Two recent interventions have proven in randomized trials to improve neurologic survival in cardiac arrest: 1) the combination of the ResQPod and the ResQPump (suction device for compression-decompression CPR -- Lancet 2011 ) and 2) Dual Sequential defibrillation.
Saddleback ST Elevation. Is it STEMI? Is it type II Brugada?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
NOVEMBER 28, 2018
Saddleback ST Elevation is almost never STEMI 2. An inverted P-wave in lead V2 implies lead misplacement too high Saddleback in STEMI: Here are the only 2 ECGs with V2 "saddleback" that I have ever seen which really represented an LAD Occlusion: Anatomy of a Missed LAD Occlusion (classified as a NonSTEMI) A Very Subtle LAD Occlusion.T-wave
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75 year old dialysis patient with nausea, vomiting and lightheadedness
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.
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90 year old with acute chest and epigastric pain, and diffuse ST depression with reciprocal STE in aVR: activate the cath lab?
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? aVR ST Segment Elevation: Acute STEMI or Not?
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Heart Pump Improves Survival After Severe Heart Attacks
DAIC
APRIL 8, 2024
The new trial, called DanGer Shock , is the first trial powered to examine whether the use of micro-axial flow pumps can improve survival in ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI, the most serious type of heart attack) that are complicated by cardiogenic shock.
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Cardiac Arrest, acute ST elevation and depression superimposed on LVH, but NOT due to ACS
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
OCTOBER 4, 2010
Thus, this patient had increased ST elevation (current of injury) superimposed on the ST elevation of LVH and simulating STEMI. The stress of the triathlon cause demand ischemia and ventricular fibrillation. He awoke and did well.
Chest Pain and Right Bundle Branch Block
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
NOVEMBER 19, 2014
Here are three more dramatic cases that illustrate RBBB + LAFB Case 1 of cardiac arrest with unrecognized STEMI, died. Furthermore, among 35 patients with acute left main coronary artery occlusion, 9 presented with RBBB (mostly with LAH) on the admission ECG.
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LBBB: Using the (Smith) Modified Sgarbossa Criteria would have saved this man's life
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JUNE 11, 2021
The patient was brought to the ED as a possible Code STEMI and was seen directly by cardiology. Similarly, STEMI guidelines call for urgent angiography for refractory ischemia or electrical/hemodynamic instability, regardless of ECG findings. On arrival, GCS was 13 and the patient complained of ongoing chest pain.
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Computer and transferring physician say "normal." What do you think?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
AUGUST 1, 2020
He has done a lot of great work on cardiac arrest, including as co-author of our study on esmolol in refractory cardiac arrest, and much more with Keith Lurie. This was sent by Guillaume Debaty, from the Grenoble Region of France. See his Google Scholar profile here. Several of these are present in this case.
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ECG with Aslanger's Pattern. CT Pulmonary Angiogram Reveals LAD Ischemia (Septal Transmural). But this is not Contradictory.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JANUARY 4, 2021
Could this be Septal STEMI (STE in V1 and aVR, with reciprocal ST depression in V4-V6?), In Septal STEMI , transmural ischemia of the septum is recorded by the overlying lead V1 as ST Elevation. Lead III is also on the right and might manifest ST Elevation in Septal STEMI. with ADDED STE in III?
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1 hour of CPR, then ECMO circulation, then successful defibrillation.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
MAY 19, 2020
This is a troponin I level that is almost exclusively seen in STEMI. I suspect this is Type 2 MI due to prolonged severe hypotension from cardiac arrest. So this is either a case of MINOCA, or a case of Type II STEMI. If the arrest was caused by acute MI due to plaque rupture, then the diagnosis is MINOCA.
A Tragic Case, related to the last post
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JUNE 15, 2013
The cath lab was activated for STEMI. Unfortunately, the patient had a cardiac arrest on arrival to the cath lab, before return of the potassium. Hyperkalemia alone can cause inferior-posterior pseudo-STEMI: Notice that in both cases, the ST elevation is downsloping and the T-wave is inverted. The potassium returned at 8.4
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Syncope, Shock, AV block, Large RV, "Anterior" ST Elevation.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
DECEMBER 15, 2015
It was a PEA or bradyasystolic arrest , not a shockable rhythm. Although most cardiac arrest from MI is due to ventricular fibrillation, some is due to high grade AV block, and so this could indeed be due to large acute STEMI. LV anterior STEMI does not give maximal ST elevation in V1. Is this an anterior (LV) MI?
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PseudoSTEMI and True ST elevation in Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB). Don't miss case 4 at the bottom.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
It may be difficult to read STEMI in the setting of RBBB. There is, however, a long QT also, with abnormal T-waves, but this is not STEMI. This ECG was recorded prehospital, and the computer read STEMI, so the medics activated the cath lab: What do you think? The ECG is consistent with high lateral STEMI. Called 911.
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Chest pain relieved by Maalox and viscous lidocaine
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
DECEMBER 23, 2014
The patient was diagnosed with esophageal reflux and was being discharged by the nurse when he had a cardiac arrest. Anterolateral STEMI. The formula results in 23.43, just above the 23.4 He was defibrillated. Here is his post resuscitation ECG: Now the diagnosis is obvious.
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What are treatment options for this rhythm, when all else fails?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
JULY 21, 2024
The ECG shows obvious STEMI(+) OMI due to probable proximal LAD occlusion. The patient in today’s case is a previously healthy 40-something male who contacted EMS due to acute onset crushing chest pain. The pain was 10/10 in intensity radiating bilaterally to the shoulders and also to the left arm and neck. The below ECG was recorded.
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ECG Blog #400 — Is this a NSTEMI?
Ken Grauer, MD
OCTOBER 21, 2023
Subendocardial Ischemia from another Cause ( ie, sustained tachyarrhythmia; cardiac arrest; shock or profound hypotension; GI bleeding; anemia; "sick patient" , etc. ). To EMPHASIZE: This pattern of diffuse Subendocardial Ischemia does not suggest acute coronary occlusion ( ie, it is not the pattern of an acute MI ).
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Severe shock, obtunded, and a diagnostic prehospital ECG. Also: How did this happen?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
NOVEMBER 30, 2019
If cardiac arrest from hypokalemia is imminent (i.e., to greatly decrease risk (although in STEMI, the optimal level is about 4.0-4.5 As I indicated above, in our cardiac arrest case, after pushing 40 mEq, the K only went up to 4.2 Give an initial infusion of 10 mEq IV over 5 minutes; repeat once if needed.
A Middle-Aged male with Chest Pain and an Unusual ECG
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
MAY 6, 2019
If it is STEMI, it would have to be RBBB with STEMI. This ECG pattern may be diagnostic of B rugada S yndrome IF seen in association with: i ) a history of cardiac arrest; polymorphic VT; or of non-vagal syncope; and / or ii ) a positive family history of sudden death at an early age; and / or iii ) a similar ECG in relatives.
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A man in his 30s with cardiac arrest and STE on the post-ROSC ECG
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
OCTOBER 10, 2022
He had multiple cardiac arrests with ROSC regained each time. Then there is loss of pulses with continued narrow complex on the monitor ("PEA arrest") Learning Points: Sudden witnessed Cardiac Arrest due to ACS is almost always due to dysrhythmia. This patient arrested shortly after hospital arrival.
Right Bundle Branch Block with Acute ST Elevation Seen Best on Prehospital ECG
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
FEBRUARY 25, 2009
RBBB in acute STEMI has a very high mortality. Were it not for this prehospital ECG and the cardiac arrest, the diagnosis may have been significantly delayed. Had this happened, the artery may have re-occluded prior to angiography, with resultant recurrent cardiac arrest and/or shock and death.
ECG Blog #381 — Why was the Troponin Normal?
Ken Grauer, MD
MAY 26, 2023
At some point ~1-2 hours after the initial ECG — the patient developed runs of VT, leading to cardiac arrest. This blog post reviews the basics for predicting the " C ulprit" A rtery — as well as the importance of the term, " O MI" ( = O cclusion-based MI ) as an improvement from the outdated STEMI paradigm.
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Proportionality is a major element in the ECG Diagnosis of OMI.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
DECEMBER 13, 2023
This phenomenon has been associated with cardiac arrest; after cardiac surgery; post-cardioversion following a sustained tachyarrhythmia; with certain types of acute cerebrovascular events ( such as subarachnoid hemorrhage ) — and , in association with large acute MI , which could potentially be the clinical scenario in today's case!
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Tachycardia, fever to 105, and ischemic ST Elevation -- a Bridge too Far
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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Interventionalist at the Receiving Hospital: "No STEMI, no cath. I do not accept the transfer."
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
Are Some Cardiologists Really Limited by Strict Adherence to STEMI millimeter criteria? I was texted these ECGs by a recent residency graduate after they had all been recorded, along with the following clinical information: A 50-something with no cardiac history, but with h/o Diabetes, was doing physical work when he collapsed.
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An elderly woman with acute vomiting, presyncope, and hypotension, and a wide QRS complex
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
NOVEMBER 11, 2022
This pattern is essentially always accompanied by cardiogenic shock and high rates of VT/VF arrest, etc. Code STEMI was activated. Plus recommendations from a 5-member panel on cardiac arrest. A man in his 80s with chest pain What, besides large anterior STEMI, is so ominous about this ECG?
Inferior ST Elevation: what is the Diagnosis?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
OCTOBER 5, 2011
If there are no changes in aVL, it is highly unlikely to be inferior STEMI. Would you be certain that it is not STEMI? No one is certain what to do with this information, and it certainly does not impact emergency medicine, in which the problem remains: is it STEMI or not? How would you be able to know this from the ECG alone?
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40-something with severe CP. True + vs. False + high lateral MI. ST depression does not localize.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
SEPTEMBER 4, 2016
He had a previous MI with cardiac arrest 2 years prior. Important Learning Point: "STEMI" is defined by millimeter criteria (1 mm in limb leads), which this does not meet. Therefore it is not a STEMI. The ST depression may be the most visibly obvious sign of STEMI. Some are STEMI-equivalents.
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What are these hyperacute T waves, with STE and T-wave inversion in aVL, and STD in inferior leads?
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
FEBRUARY 27, 2023
See many examples of Pseudo STEMI due to hyperkalemia at these two posts: Acute respiratory distress: Correct interpretation of the initial and serial ECG findings, with aggressive management, might have saved his life. No followup EKG was recorded!!
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