Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

The axiom of "type 1 (ACS, plaque rupture) STEMIs are not tachycardic unless they are in cardiogenic shock" is not applicable outside of sinus rhythm. In some cases the ischemia can be seen "through" the flutter waves, whereas in other cases the arrhythmia must be terminated before the ischemia can be clearly distinguished.

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Ischemia Atrial Flutter Arrhythmia Tachycardia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 11, 2024

Below is the first ECG recorded by paramedics after 2 hours of chest pain, interpreted by the machine as “possible inferior ischemia”. 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. What do you think?

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Chest Pain STEMI Bradycardia Stents 100

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 22, 2023

Important point: when there is diffuse subendocardial ischemia but no OMI, a wall motion abnormality will not necessarily be present. They agreed ischemia was likely in the setting of demand given DKA and infection. That this is all demand ischemia is unlikely. Lung exam showed diffuse B lines bilaterally. Aslanger's pattern.

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Chest Pain Ischemia Echocardiogram Myocardial Infarction 119

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

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STEMI Chest Pain Risk Factors Anatomy 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 Stent Stents 52

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.

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STEMI Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction Angioplasty 52

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).

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Chest Pain STEMI Bradycardia Ischemia 114

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

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STEMI Ischemia Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction 52

Ken Grauer, MD

AUGUST 26, 2023

These tall T waves are associated with flattening ( straightening ) of the ST segment in the inferior leads — with slight S T elevation in leads V2-thru-V6 ( albeit not enough to qualify as a "STEMI" — Akbar et al, StatPearls, 2023 ). ECG Blog #185 — Reviews the P s, Q s, 3 R Approach to Rhythm Interpretation.

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Blog Chest Pain STEMI Ischemia 145

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). I would expect that a stent would be placed. The angiogram showed an open artery with 95% stenosis and thrombosis and it was stented. What would I expect the angiogram to show? Jesse McLaren et al.

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Chest Pain STEMI Stent Stents 98

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 30, 2023

The STD maximal in V1-V4 is diagnostic of acute transmural posterior wall ischemia, most likely due to posterior OMI. Subendocardial ischemia does not localize, and subendocardial ischemia presents with STD maximal in V5-6, II, and STE in aVR. It does not meet STEMI criteria. Subendocardial ischemia does not localize.

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Chest Pain Ischemia STEMI Arrhythmia 52

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).

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STEMI Myocardial Infarction Cardiac Arrest Arrhythmia 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. This is her ECG 1.5

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STEMI Ischemia Chest Pain Stent 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.

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Chest Pain STEMI Echocardiogram Stent 116

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.

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STEMI Myocardial Infarction Chest Pain Aneurysm 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

A man in his 70s with past medical history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, CAD s/p left circumflex stent 2 years prior presented to the ED with worsening intermittent exertional chest pain relieved by rest. The baseline ECG is basically normal with no ischemia. In my opinion, I think it looks more like subendocardial ischemia.

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Chest Pain Cardiogenic Shock Ischemia Myocardial Infarction 83

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.

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Chest Pain Ischemia Pericarditis Tachycardia 104

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 13, 2020

Here is the EMS ECG: Obviously massive diffuse subendocardial ischemia, with profound STD and STE in aVR Of course this pattern is most often seen from etoliogies other than ACS. The ECG only tells you there is ischemia, not the etiology of it. Nevertheless, the clinical situation made other etiologies unlikely.

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Echocardiogram Ischemia Chest Pain Blog 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%

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STEMI Myocardial Infarction Chest Pain Ischemia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 14, 2024

The cath lab was activated, and then not cancelled, and the angiogram showed 99% TIMI 2 flow proximal LAD culprit lesion, stented in less than 90 minutes of arrival. Cath days later showed complete occlusion of the LAD, stented. Another missed OMI by the False STEMI-NonSTEMI Dichotomy Don't miss them!!! Normal vitals.

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AFIB Stent Stents Chest Pain 105

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

JUNE 12, 2016

Just as hyperacute T-waves can be reciprocal to T-wave inversion ( last case ),T-wave inversion can be reciprocal to STEMI of opposite wall! Answer : There is very abnormal T-wave inversion in aVL which is typical of subtle transmural/subepicardial (due to occlusion) ischemia to the inferior wall. An 80% thrombotic RCA was stented.

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Chest Pain Ischemia STEMI Stent 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

Thus, there are some suspicious abnormalities, but no definite signs of ischemia. Because of persistent symptoms, another ECG was recorded 30 minutes later: There is only one new finding on this ECG which suggests ischemia. The difference is significant and highly suggests posterior ischemia. It is very subtle but real.

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Chest Pain Ischemia STEMI Stent 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. This was clearly severe subepicardial ischemia causing ST Elevation, but it was not of a long enough duration to result in measurable infarct. Values: STE60V3 = 2.0, QRS V2 = 10, RAV4 = 15.5, There was good flow.

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STEMI Angina Myocardial Infarction Plaque 40

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. A stent was placed. For those who depend on echocardiogram to confirm the ECG findings of ischemia, this should be sobering. Lessons: 1.

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Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction Ischemia Angina 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 15, 2013

The ECG in the chart was read as "no obvious ST changes," (even though no previous ECG was available) and the formal read by the emergency physicians was: "ST deviation and moderated T-wave abnormality, consider lateral ischemia." New ST elevation diagnostic of STEMI [equation value = 25.3 It was stented. Computerized QTc = 417.

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Chest Pain Myocardial Infarction Thrombosis STEMI 52

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?

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Myocardial Infarction Ischemia STEMI Cardiogenic Shock 52

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. It was opened and stented. Therefore it is not a STEMI. Some are STEMI-equivalents. RCA: dominant.

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Ischemia Chest Pain STEMI Stenosis 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 24, 2013

He underwent coronary stenting (uncertain which artery). Such T-waves are almost always reciprocal to ischemia in the region of aVL (although aVL looks n ormal here) , and in a patient with chest pain are nearly diagnostic of ischemia. Ischemia on the ECG can be very subtle and is easily missed. Lesson : 1.

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Cardiac Arrest Myocardial Infarction Chest Pain Ischemia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 26, 2015

These elevations meet STEMI criteria ( ≥ 1mm in 2 contiguous leads). While this may be change that is reciprocal to an Acute/Subacute Inferior STEMI, the problem is that LV aneurysm may also manifest with this reciprocal change. In STEMI, they are generally upright and large in proportion to the QRS. This case is tough.

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Chest Pain Aneurysm STEMI Document 52

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. So the RCA was stented. Vitals were HR 58 BP 167/70 R20 sat 96%.

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Chest Pain Cardiac Arrest Ischemia Cardiogenic Shock 52

EMS 12-Lead

AUGUST 14, 2022

One stent was deployed with restorative TIMI-0 flow. link] deWinter first reported his unique characteristics of LAD occlusion in 2008, and since the respective ECG changes do not fit the conventional STEMI paradigm (as he even stated – “instead of signature ST-segment elevation” ….) it has been subsequently deemed a STEMI-equivalent.

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STEMI Sudden Cardiac Death Thrombosis Thrombolysis 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

A middle-aged male with h/o CAD and stents presented with typical chest pressure. 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. So there is pathologic ST elevation here, consistent with anterolateral STEMI. Called 911.

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STEMI Chest Pain Cardiac Arrest Stent 40

EMS 12-Lead

APRIL 21, 2022

There is appreciable STE aVR with near-global STD that appropriately maximizes in Leads II and V5, and thus suggesting a circumstance of generic, diffusely populated, circumferential subendocardial ischemia versus occlusive coronary thrombus. [1] STEMI was activated and the patient went to Cath on arrival.

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Ischemia Myocardial Infarction Blog Coronary Angiogram 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! Both were stented. Subsequent echo showed no wall motion abnormality.

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Pericarditis Ischemia STEMI Chest Pain 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 29, 2016

Normal RBBB, no evidence of ischemia. It was opened and stented. It is uncommon in the age of reperfusion therapy, as most STEMI get treated reasonably early, before transmural infarct. Most STEMI peak at over 10 ng/mL; most NonSTEMI at less than 10 ng/mL. Here is the patient's previous ECG (Figure 2): Previous ECG.

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Aneurysm Ischemia Embolism STEMI 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 17, 2019

It could at least say: "ST Elevation, consistent with normal variant," or "consistent with ischemia or normal variant," or "consistent with early repolarization." So there is definitely no STEMI, and the STE is normal. But after reading this blog, you all know that most OMI do NOT meet STEMI criteria. mm in men over age 40.

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Chest Pain STEMI Blog Ischemia 52