Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 4, 2021

This suggests diffuse subendocardial ischemia. However, along with that subendocardial ischemia, there is also STE in lead III with reciprocal ST depression in aVL, and some STE in V1. If there is also subendocardial ischemia, the ST depression vector remains leftward, with a reciprocal ST Elevation vector also to the right.

Ischemia 40

Ischemia Pulmonary STEMI Chest Pain 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 4, 2010

There is profound LVH with anterolateral ST elevation and reciprocal ST depression in II, III, aVF, and ST depression in V5 and V6 that could all be secondary to LVH or could represent ischemia superimposed on the repolarization abnormalities of LVH: note that wherever there is ST depression, it is associated with a very high voltage R-wave.

Cardiac Arrest 52

Cardiac Arrest Ischemia Stenosis STEMI 52

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.

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STEMI Chest Pain Stents Stent 52

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

APRIL 24, 2020

When the ST vector is primarily posterior, the diagnosis is usually posterior STEMI. Contrary to what Ken stated, the ST vector remains mostly posterior __ What about subendocardial ischemia? Subendocardial ischemia results in ST depression, but unfortunately, and rather mysteriously, it does not localize to the ischemic wall.

Ischemia 52

Ischemia Chest Pain Stenosis STEMI 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. 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. It was stented.

Chest Pain 116

Chest Pain STEMI Echocardiogram Stents 116

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 24, 2015

Again, it is common to have an ECG that shows apparent subendocardial ischemia after resuscitation from cardiac arrest, after defibrillation, and after cardioversion. and repeat the ECG, to see if the apparent ischemia persists. A third ECG was done about 25 minutes after the first: This shows resolution of all apparent ischemia.

Cardiac Arrest 52

Cardiac Arrest Defibrillator Atrial Fibrillation Ischemia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

I would expect TIMI-3 flow (normal flow, no persistent ischemia) with a culprit in the RCA (or possibly Circumflex). 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? Jesse McLaren et al.

Chest Pain 98

Chest Pain STEMI Stents Stent 98

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 1, 2023

The precordial STD persists in severity from V4-V6, rather than being maximal in V1-V4 (as in posterior OMI), and so the ECG overall best fits the subendocardial ischemia pattern (diffuse supply/demand mismatch). A "STEMI alert" was called and soon cancelled.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Ischemia Tachycardia Stenosis 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

The culprit lesion was a complex calcified mid LAD stenosis involving the first and second diagonal branches. Post Cath ECG: Obviously completing MI with LVA morphology, and STE that meets STEMI criteria (but pt is still diagnosed as "NSTEMI"). The case doesn't come up for quality assurance because that is only done for STEMI patients.

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STEMI Myocardial Infarction Ischemia Academic 78

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

Down-up T-waves in inferior leads are almost always reciprocal to ischemia in the territory underlying aVL. This is not normal and is a tip off that there is posterior ischemia accompanying the ischemia in aVL. Important Learning Point: "STEMI" is defined by millimeter criteria (1 mm in limb leads), which this does not meet.

Ischemia 40

Ischemia Chest Pain STEMI Stenosis 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 28, 2013

STE limited to aVR is due to diffuse subendocardial ischemia, but what of STE in both aVR and V1? The last section is a detailed discussion of the research on aVR in both STEMI and NonSTEMI. Alternatively, it is a variant of diffuse subendocardial ischemia, with STE in V1 reciprocal to ST depression in inferior and lateral leads.

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Cardiac Arrest Ischemia Defibrillator Electrocardiogram 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

There’s mild inferior ST elevation in III that doesn’t meet STEMI criteria, but it’s associated with ST depression in aVL and V2 that makes it diagnostic of infero-posterior Occlusion MI (from either RCA or circumflex)– accompanied by inferior Q waves of unknown age. Are there any signs of occlusion or reperfusion?

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Ischemia Stenosis 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 9, 2013

Here is the prehospital ECG, with pain:  Hyperacute anterolateral STEMI  The medics had activated the cath lab and the patient went for angiogram and had a 95% stenotic LAD with TIMI-3 flow. For those who depend on echocardiogram to confirm the ECG findings of ischemia, this should be sobering. Type B waves are deeper and symmetric.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction Ischemia Angina 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 28, 2018

More Smith comment: it is true that ST depression (STD) due to subendocardial ischemia does not localize [it is usually diffuse ST depression, in multiple leads and not reciprocal to ST elevation in an opposite territory], this ST depression is different! When there is STE in V4-V6, and in inferior leads, there is no ST depression in V2-V4.

Pericarditis 52

Pericarditis Ischemia STEMI Chest Pain 52

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

SEPTEMBER 17, 2023

There is normal R-wave progression in the precordial leads with no evidence of ischemia. COPD, Idiopathic PAH, acute or chronic PE, pulmonary valve stenosis, etc) 3) Conditions affecting RV myocardial contractility, such as ARVD or RV infarction The ECGs does not really show any signs of chronic RV dilation or hypertrophy.

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Pulmonary Tricuspid Chest Pain Cardiogenic Shock 116

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

1-4 Surprisingly, serial angiographic studies have revealed that the plaque at the site of the culprit lesion of a future acute myocardial infarction often does not cause stenosis that, as seen on the antecedent angiogram, is sufficiently severe to limit flow. Learning Points: 1.

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Plaque Chest Pain Thrombosis Stenosis 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 14, 2018

Wellens' syndrome represents the aftermath of an unrecorded occlusion (STEMI) with spontaneous reperfusion. This was my interpretation: although most ischemic T-wave inversion is post -ischemic like Wellens, sometime active ischemia results in isolated T-wave inversion. We assumed this was Wellens' syndrome and treated as such.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Angina Ischemia Stenosis 52

EMS 12-Lead

MAY 20, 2022

There is ventricular hypertrophy in the absence of abnormal loading conditions, such as aortic stenosis, or hypertension, for example – of which the most common variant is Asymmetric Septal Hypertrophy. There is LBBB-like morphology with persistent patterns of subendocardial ischemia.

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Cardiomyopathy Ischemia STEMI Coronary Angiogram 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 26, 2017

This meets "STEMI criteria" However, there is very high voltage, with a very deep S-wave in V2 and tall R-wave in V4. The morphology is not right for STEMI. My interpretation: LVH with secondary ST-T abnormalities, exaggerated by stress, not a STEMI. This is very good evidence that the ST elevation is not due to STEMI.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Ultrasound Pulmonary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 31, 2013

We have found in our study comparing inferior STEMI (manuscript in preparation) to inferior early repol several distinguishing characteristics. T-wave inversion in V2 is inconsistent with early repol, and is typical of posterior ischemia. In addition, there is ST depression, diagnostic of ischemia, in V3-V6. ng/ml 3 hours later.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Aneurysm STEMI Ischemia 52

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). The patient’s angiogram should have been expedited, but the EKG change was not recognized as recurrence of transmural ischemia. The red arrow points to a 90% stenosis in the proximal segment of the LAD.

Chest Pain 120

Chest Pain Blog Hospital Tachycardia 120

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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Tachycardia STEMI Chest Pain Ischemia 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 14, 2022

Cath at approximately 0945: "The LAD had a 90% proximal stenosis with TIMI 3 flow which corresponds to his ECG although LV function remains preserved. With nitroglycerin there is improvement in the 90% stenosis but still persistent stenosis consistent with the dynamic nature of his presentation. Is this Acute Ischemia?

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Blog Stenosis 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 6, 2018

He wrote in his note that "The EKG showed early repolarization in I, V2-V3 but no clear STEMI pattern." If the patient had been "lucky," his symptoms from the prior day might have been due to ischemia prolonged and intense enough to result in small troponin increase. Of the 418 patient with ACO, 29% did not meet “STEMI criteria.”

Chest Pain 40

Chest Pain STEMI Myocardial Infarction Coronary Artery Disease 40

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

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

These kinds of cases were excluded from the study as obvious anterior STEMI. --QTc Case 1 Acute anterior STEMI from LAD occlusion, or Benign Early Repolarization (BER)? Appropriately, the physicians repeated the ECG 20 minutes later and it was diagnostic of anterior STEMI. Angiogram showed a critical LAD thrombotic stenosis.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Bradycardia Stenosis 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 29, 2018

Here is a repeat ECG 45 minutes later with persistent chest pain: Obviously progressing into a clear STEMI. Meets formal STEMI criteria in V2-V3. Also notice clearly hyperacute T waves in V2-V4, as well as worsening STD in V5-6 and II, III, aVF.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Diabetes Hypertension 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 2, 2019

found that such ECG findings only represented left main ACS in 14% of such ECGs: Only 23% of patients with the aVR STE pattern had any LM disease (fewer if defined as 50% stenosis). Diffuse ST depression with ST elevation in aVR: Is this pattern specific for global ischemia due to left main coronary artery disease? Ischemia b.

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Sickle Cell Disease Ischemia Dysrhythmia Chest Pain 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

2 days later This is a typical LVH pattern, without ischemia Patient underwent 4 vessel CABG. In the setting of prior stenting and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, would pursue a heart team revascularization approach Syntax score 28.5,

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Pericarditis Blog 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 28, 2020

This is ischemia until proven otherwise. This can only be due to STEMI. Here I annotate it: This shows 100% occluded circumflex (red arrow) and a 90% stenosis of the LAD (Yellow arrow). The LAD was thought to be not thrombotic, but a chronic tight stenosis. By the ECG, it is not necessarily subacute, but could be.

Cardiogenic Shock 40

Cardiogenic Shock Chest Pain Ischemia Stenosis 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 23, 2023

Ischemic ST-Segment Depression Maximal in V1-V4 (Versus V5-V6) of Any Amplitude Is Specific for Occlusion Myocardial Infarction (Versus Nonocclusive Ischemia). 90% stenosis of the proximal ramus intermedius, pre procedure TIMI II flow The ramus intermedius is a normal variant on coronary anatomy that arises between the LAD and LCX.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Blog Stenosis Myocardial Infarction 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 patient has also developed sinus bradycardia, which may result from right coronary artery ischemia to the SA node. Instead we discussed 5 minute delays for the STEMI(+) OMI patients.

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain STEMI Cardiogenic Shock Bradycardia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 20, 2024

Angiogram around 9am: Culprit lesion mid LAD 100% stenosis TIMI 0 TIMI 3 after PCI Severe apical dyskinesis, severe anteroapical akinesis. Instead, pain is numbed and thus ischemia is obscured with opioids, excuses like hypertension are blamed, and unnecessary CT pulmonary angiograms are focused on. None further were ordered.

Chest Pain 120

Chest Pain STEMI Hypertension Blog 120

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 21, 2024

The ECG shows obvious STEMI(+) OMI due to probable proximal LAD occlusion. Angiography : LMCA — 90-99% osteal stenosis. LCx — 50-69% stenosis of the 1st marginal branch; with 100% distal LCx occlusion. There is no definite evidence of acute ischemia. (ie, The below ECG was recorded. RCA — 100% proximal occlussion.

Arrhythmia 131

Arrhythmia Cardiogenic Shock Bradycardia Defibrillator 131

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 9, 2019

Post by Smith and Meyers Sam Ghali ( [link] ) just asked me (Smith): "Steve, do left main coronary artery *occlusions* (actual ones with transmural ischemia) have ST Depression or ST Elevation in aVR?" All are, however, clearly massive STEMI. This is her ECG: An obvious STEMI, but which artery?

Myocardial Infarction 52

Myocardial Infarction Ischemia STEMI Cardiogenic Shock 52