Remove Electrocardiogram Remove Ischemia Remove STEMI
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Chest pain: Are these really "Nonspecific ST-T wave abnormalities", as the cardiologist interpretation states?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

The ECG did not meet STEMI criteria, and the final cardiology interpretation was “ST and T wave abnormality, consider anterior ischemia”. There’s only minimal ST elevation in III, which does not meet STEMI criteria of 1mm in two contiguous leads. But STEMI criteria is only 43% sensitive for OMI.[1]

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Is OMI an ECG Diagnosis?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

I sent this to the Queen of Hearts So the ECG is both STEMI negative and has no subtle diagnostic signs of occlusion. Non-STEMI guidelines call for “urgent/immediate invasive strategy is indicated in patients with NSTE-ACS who have refractory angina or hemodynamic or electrical instability,” regardless of ECG findings.[1]

STEMI 121
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Which patient has the more severe chest pain?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Methods and Results Patients with confirmed ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by emergency medical services were included in this retrospective cohort analysis of the AVOID study. Greater severity of chest pain is presumed to be associated with a stronger likelihood of a true positive STEMI diagnosis. years old ± 13.7

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Four patients with chest pain and ‘normal’ ECG: can you trust the computer interpretation?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

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]

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Precordial ST depression. What is the diagnosis?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

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)]. I have warned in the past that one must think of other etiologies of ischemia when there is tachycardia.

STEMI 52
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Four anterior STEMIs: acute and reperfused vs. won't reperfuse, subacute and reperfused vs. not reperfused

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

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. The LAD has reperfused early. This was recorded 2.5

STEMI 52
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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

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.”