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"Non-STEMI" is a worthless term.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

A 60 yo with 2 previous inferior (RCA) STEMIs, stented, called 911 for one hour of chest pain. Here is his most recent previous ECG: This was recorded after intervention for inferior STEMI (with massive ST Elevation, see below), and shows inferior Q-waves with T-wave inversion typical of completed inferior OMI. ng/mL (quite large).

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Acute chest pain, right bundle branch block, no STEMI criteria, and negative initial troponin.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

The paramedic called the EM physician ahead of arrival and discussed the case and ECGs, and both agreed upon activating "Code STEMI" (even though of course it is not STEMI by definition), so that the acute LAD occlusion could be treated as fast as possible. So the cath lab was activated. Long term outcome is unavailable.

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ECG Blog #415 — The Cath showed NO Occlusion!

Ken Grauer, MD

BUT — Cardiac catheterization done a little later did not reveal any significant stenosis. Despite the absence of significant coronary stenosis on her post-arrest cath — the ECG in Figure-1 is clearly diagnostic of an extensive anterolateral STEMI ( presumably from acute LAD [ L eft A nterior D escending ] coronary artery occlusion).

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Doctor, should we activate the hospital's "STEMI alert"?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

They wanted to know if I would like them to activate the outside hospital's "STEMI alert." But of course, this is not a STEMI by definition as it does not meet STEMI criteria. The STEMI guidelines do state that hyperacute T-waves "may indicate early acute myocardial infarction" but do not discuss it as a "STEMI equivalent."

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Two ECGs texted to me in the same hour. What would you recommend?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

I sent this ECG to the Queen of Hearts (PMcardio OMI), and here is the verdict: You can subscribe for news and early access (via participating in our studies) to the Queen of Hearts here: [link] queen-form Then I learned that a Code STEMI was activated for concern of anterior "STEMI" in V1-V2. High sensitivity troponin I was 23 ng/L.

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Transient STEMI, serial ECGs prehospital to hospital, all troponins negative (less than 0.04 ng/ml)

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

This is a 45 yo male who had an inferior STEMI 6 months prior, was found to have severe LAD and left main disease, and was supposed to be set up for CABG a few weeks later, but did not follow up. But it could be anterior STEMI. 40% of anterior STEMI has upward concavity in all of leads V2-V6. is likely anterior STEMI).

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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.