Remove Pericarditis Remove STEMI Remove Stents
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Will this case be flagged for Quality Improvement in the STEMI/NSTEMI Paradigm?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Below is the first ECG, signed off by the over-reading cardiologist agreeing with the computer interpretation: ST elevation, consider early repolarization, pericarditis, or injury. Theres ST elevation in V3-4 which meets STEMI criteria, which could be present in either early repolarization, pericarditis or injury.

STEMI 79
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Quiz post: two patients with chest pain. Do either, both, or neither have OMI?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

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.

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Watch what happens when "pericarditis" and morphine cloud your judgment

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Submitted and written by Alex Bracey with edits by Pendell Meyers and Steve Smith Case A 50ish year old man with a history of CAD w/ prior LAD MI s/p LAD stenting presented to the ED with chest pain similar to his prior MI, but worse. Remember, pericarditis is the thing you say and write down when youre actively trying to miss an OMI.

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Quiz post: 2 similar patients with similar ECGs. Which, if any, or both, are OMI? Will you outperform the Queen of Hearts?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

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 124
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Three prehospital ECGs in patients with chest pain

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

These latter findings are typical of pericarditis, but pericarditis never has reciprocal ST depression. It definitely does not fulfill STEMI criteria, and I would argue that it would not lead to cath lab activation in most centers. Usually with pericarditis and myocarditis — hyperacute T waves (HATW) are not present.

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Is this ECG diagnostic of coronary occlusion? Also: Inferior de Winter's T-waves on prehospital ECG??

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

The STD in V2-V4 is almost certainly reciprocal STD, reciprocal to STEMI in the posterior wall; this is evident because it is maximal in V2-V4, not in V4-V6. Both were stented. In patients with suspicion of acute MI who have any ST elevation, aVL is also a very useful lead to differentiate between pericarditis and MI.

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Nausea and Vomiting. This ECG is loaded with information.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

It was opened and stented. It is uncommon in the age of reperfusion therapy, as most STEMI get treated reasonably early, before transmural infarct. Patients with completed, transmural infarct are also at risk for post-infarction regional pericarditis and myocardial rupture. The cath lab was activated.