- In view of this history — How would YOU interpret this ECG?
- Should the cath lab be activated?
Figure-1: The initial ECG in today's case. (To improve visualization — I've digitized the original ECG using PMcardio). |
- The rhythm is sinus bradycardia at ~55-60/minute.
- The PR and QRS intervals are both normal. The QTc may be of borderline duration, but does not appear to be overtly prolonged.
- The frontal plane axis is leftward, consistent with LAHB (Left Anterior HemiBlock) — as the QRS complex in lead II is predominantly negative.
- There is no chamber enlargement.
- There is a potentially significant Q wave in lead aVL — in that this Q wave seems wider-than-it-should-be considering small amplitude of the QRS in this lead.
- R Wave Progression — overall is not necessarily abnormal (ie, since initial r waves are present in each of the first 3 anterior leads — with significant R wave amplitude occurring by lead V4, as it should). That said — the r wave in lead V3 is still relatively small at ~2 mm (NOTE: My concern about an acute anterior event is less if the r wave in anterior leads is taller, rather than as modest in size as we see in ECG #1).
- The most remarkable finding in ECG #1 — relates to the presence of tall, peaked T waves in multiple leads (ie, in leads II,III,aVF; and in leads V2-thru-V6). These T waves are disproportionately tall with respect to the R waves in these leads (ie, The T waves in leads V2,V3 tower over the 2mm r waves in those leads — and the tall T waves in leads II,III,aVF and in V4,V5,V6 are of comparable [if not greater] height than R waves in these leads).
- These tall T waves are associated with flattening (straightening) of the ST segment in the inferior leads — with slight ST elevation in leads V2-thru-V6 (albeit not enough to qualify as a "STEMI" — Akbar et al, StatPearls, 2023). That said, these are hyperacute T waves, in that they are "hypervoluminous" (ie, taller and "fatter"-at-their-peak than they should be — with a wider-than-it-should-be T wave base, especially in leads V2-thru-V5).
- Lead aVL shows reciprocal changes to what is seen in the inferior leads (ie, ST segment coving with slight elevation is seen in lead aVL — followed by symmetric T wave inversion in this lead that manifests an inappropriately widened Q wave).
- Given markedly hyperacute T waves that begin as early as in lead V2, continuing through to lead V6 — with abnormal ST-T waves in leads II,III,aVF and aVL — ECG #1 most likely represents acute proximal LAD (Left Anterior Descending) occlusion.
- As discussed in many posts in this ECG Blog — despite not satisfying the millimeter-based definition of a STEMI — in this patient with new chest pain, the ECG findings in Figure-1 merit prompt cath lab activation without any need to wait for serum troponin to return elevated (See ECG Blog #193 — regarding the new "OMI" paradigm).
- The importance of correlating the presence (and relative severity) of CP with each serial ECG recorded on the patient — is that doing so may provide insight as to whether the "culprit" vessel at any time during the process is likely to be open or closed.
- The "culprit" coronary artery is more likely to be occluded IF — the patient has ongoing severe CP (Chest Pain), especially if this occurs in association with ST elevation over the area of infarction.
- Spontaneous reperfusion is likely IF — in association with reduction (or resolution) of CP, the ST elevation and reciprocal ST depression significantly improve.
- Reperfusion of the "culprit" artery is even more likely IF — in association with CP resolution, one sees "reperfusion" T waves (ie, T wave inversion) in areas where there had been ST elevation.
- KEY Point: Somewhere in between the phase of acute ST elevation and return of ST segments to baseline — may be a "transition" phase of pseudo-normalization, during which time the ECG may look relatively normal (or show no more than nonspecific ST-T wave flattening). IF attention is not paid to the presence and relative severity of CP in association with each serial ECG — it could be extremely EASY to overlook recent OMI if the initial ECG is being viewed during this phase of pseudo-normalization.
- This is the reason why despite not satisfying millimeter-based STEMI criteria — ECG #1 is diagnostic of an acute OMI until proven otherwise (and merits prompt cath with probable need for PCI).
- Therefore — a single hs-troponin value within the "normal" range does not rule out OMI. (This point is discussed in detail in the March 24, 2023 post of Dr. Smith’s ECG Blog).
- On the contrary — IF the initial hs-troponin value comes back normal (as it may — as emphasized in PEARL #3) — it is all-too-easy to be falsely reassured by an initially normal hs-troponin — which may cause further delay in performing the needed cath (which could turn out to be a lethal mistake — IF the “culprit” artery spontaneously reoccludes while providers are waiting “until” the hs-troponin finally becomes elevated).
- For example, in the March 24, 2023 post that I refer to above — not only the 1st hs-troponin ( = 4 ng/L), but also the 2nd hs-troponin value obtained 2 hours later ( = 16 ng/L) were within the "normal" range (which for this particular hs-troponin assay was ≤16 ng/L for women; ≤26 ng/L for men).
- As emphasized in the discussion of this March 24 case by Dr. Smith — the 2-to-3 hour "Delta" (ie, the difference between the 1st and 2nd hs-troponin values) — should be less than 3 ng/L. Therefore, despite both of these first 2 hs-troponin assays falling within the “normal” range — the delta of 12 ng/L (ie, 16 ng/L — followed by 4 ng/L) is clearly abnormal, and indicative of acute OMI until you can prove otherwise.
- NOTE: The reason I began today's case with ECG #1 — is to emphasize a number of important points.
- In the Limb Leads: Although QRS morphology looks similar in ECG #1 and ECG #2 — there clearly was more ST elevation in leads I and aVL and much more reciprocal ST depression in the inferior leads at the time ECG #2 was obtained.
- In the Chest Leads: ST elevation is so dramatic in ECG #2, as to be evident from across the room (ie, with the amount of ST elevation exceeding 5 mm in leads V2,V3,V5 — and attaining 10 mm in lead V4).
- It is of note that chest lead R wave amplitude was much greater in the initial ECG in today's case ( = in ECG #2).
- KEY Point: When the EMS team first arrived on the scene — the patient had severe CP in association with the tall chest lead R waves seen in ECG #2, with marked ST elevation and marked reciprocal inferior lead ST depression.
- Just 20 minutes later, ECG #1 was obtained — at which point the patient's chest pain had resolved, in association with significant loss of chest lead R wave amplitude and near resolution of ST segment elevation and reciprocal depression. Without the ST segment elevation and depression — only the hyperacute T waves remain in ECG #1.
- That the proximal LAD was acutely occluded when the patient was having severe CP (on EMS arrival — when ECG #2 was obtained).
- That the "culprit" artery spontaneously opened ~20 minutes later while the EMS unit was en route to the hospital (at which time the patient's CP had resolved — and ECG #1 was obtained).
- That despite resolution of the patient's CP and of ST segment elevation and depression — that prompt cath with PCI remained essential in this patient who otherwise would be at risk that the "culprit" artery might at any moment spontaneously reocclude.
- Final "Take-Home" Point: Imagine if ECG #2 had not been obtained — and instead, the first (and only) EMS tracing was ECG #1. This is why correlation of the timing of the presence (and severity) of symptoms in association with each ECG obtained is essential — and why in a case such as this one, the hyperacute T waves in ECG #1 despite not satisfying millimeter-based STEMI criteria are more than enough to justify prompt cath without the need to wait for a positive troponin value.
- ECG Blog #205 — Reviews my Systematic Approach to 12-lead ECG Interpretation.
- ECG Blog #185 — Reviews the Ps, Qs, 3R Approach to Rhythm Interpretation.
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- ECG Blog #193 — Reviews the concept of why the term “OMI” ( = Occlusion-based MI) should replace the more familiar term STEMI — and — reviews the basics on how to predict the "culprit" artery.
- ECG Blog #194 — Reviews how to tell IF the “culprit” (ie, acutely occluded) artery has reperfused using clinical and ECG data.
- ECG Blog #294 — How to tell IF the "culprit" artery has reperfused.
- ECG Blog #183 — Reviews the concept of deWinter T-Waves (with reproduction of the illustrative Figure from the original deWinter NEM manuscript).
- ECG Blog #318 — ECG Blog #340 — and ECG Blog #341 — More on deWinter and deWinter-like T waves.
- ECG Blog #218 — Reviews HOW to define a T wave as being Hyperacute?
- ECG Blog #260 — ECG Blog #222 — and ECG Blog #292 — Reviews when a T wave is hyperacute — and the concept of "dynamic" ST-T wave changes.
- ECG Blog #387 — Dynamic change in 2 minutes.
- ECG Blog #230 — How to compare serial ECGs.
- ECG Blog #337 — an OMI misdiagnosed as an NSTEMI ...
- ECG Blog #184 — illustrates the "magical" mirror-image opposite relationship with acute ischemia between lead III and lead aVL (featured in Audio Pearl #2 in this blog post).
- ECG Blog #167 — another case of the "magical" mirror-image opposite relationship between lead III and lead aVL that confirmed acute OMI.
- ECG Blog #271 — Reviews determination of the ST segment baseline (with discussion of the entity of diffuse Subendocardial Ischemia).
- ECG Blog #258 — How to "Date" an Infarction based on the initial ECG.
- The importance of the new OMI (vs the old STEMI) Paradigm — See My Comment in the July 31, 2020 post in Dr. Smith's ECG Blog.
- For review on when despite acute OMI — the initial hs-troponin may come back normal — See the March 24, 2023 post in Dr. Smith’s ECG Blog.
- I've added several Audio Pearls below with material relevant to today's case.
Today’s ECG Media PEARL #1 (3:00 minutes Audio) — Reviews the concept of deWinter T waves (and the common occurrence of variations on this "theme" ).
ECG Media PEARL #35a (4:50 minutes Audio) — WHEN is a T Wave Hyperacute vs a Repolarization variant?
ECG Media PEARL #39a (4:50 minutes Audio) — Reviews the concept of Dynamic ST-T Wave Changes (and how this ECG finding can assist in determining if acute cardiac cath is indicated).
ECG Media PEARL #46a (6:35 minutes Audio) — Reviews HOW to compare Serial ECGs (ie, Are you comparing "Apples with Apples" — or — with Oranges?).