Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 4, 2024

Unknown algorithm The Queen gets it right Case 4 How unreliable are computer algorithms in the Diagnosis of STEMI? The patient's prehospital ECG showed that there was massive STEMI and these are hyperacute T-waves "on the way down" as they normalize. The Queen gets it right First ED ECG: Hyperacute T-waves persist.

STEMI 118

STEMI OR ED ALS 118

Core EM

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

He arrived initially with diaphoresis and pallor which have self-resolved following arrival to the ED. Serial ECG's should be obtained to assess for evolution to acute STEMI. As demonstrated by this case, serial EKG’s may show complete resolution of these findings without progressing into a STEMI pattern. N Engl J Med.

Coronary 130

Coronary STEMI ED 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

Sent by anonymous, written by Pendell Meyers, reviewed by Smith and Grauer A man in his 40s presented to the ED with HTN, DM, and smoking history for evaluation of acute chest pain. In the available view of the sinus rhythm, we see normal variant STE which probably meets STEMI criteria in V4 and V5. Triage ECG: What do you think?

STEMI 127

STEMI ED OR Coronary 127

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 27, 2024

So this NSTEMI was likely a STEMI(-)OMI with delayed reperfusion. The patient was admitted as ‘NSTEMI’ which is supposed to represent a non-occlusive MI, but the underlying pathophysiology is analogous to a transient STEMI. See these posts: Chest Pain, ST Elevation, and an Elevated Troponin: Should we Activate the Cath Lab?

STEMI 110

STEMI Coronary ACS ED 110

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 18, 2023

4,5] We have now formally studied this question: Emergency department Code STEMI patients with initial electrocardiogram labeled ‘normal’ by computer interpretation: a 7-year retrospective review.[6] have published a number of warnings about the previous reassuring studies.[4,5]

STEMI 123

STEMI Emergency Department Coronary OR 123

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

Both cases had an EMS ECG that was transmitted to the ED physician asking "should we activate the cath lab?" 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." What do you think?

OR 124

OR STEMI EMS ED 124

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 11, 2023

The neighbor recorded a systolic blood pressure again above 200 mm Hg and advised her to come to the ED to address her symptoms. Recall from this post referencing this study that "reciprocal STD in aVL is highly sensitive for inferior OMI (far better than STEMI criteria) and excludes pericarditis, but is not specific for OMI."

E-9-1-1 127

E-9-1-1 ACS Coronary STEMI 127

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 1, 2023

He called EMS who brought him to the ED. She knows the baseline is normal, and she knows the STEMI(-) OMI one is diagnostic of OMI, with the highest possible confidence. Here is the EM decision making: "The patient's EKG revealed some repolarization abnormalities but no clear signs of a STEMI. ED Diagnoses: 1.

OR 131

OR STEMI Coronary CAD 131

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

Methods and Results Patients with confirmed ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by emergency medical services were included in this retrospective cohort analysis of the AVOID study. Having severe pain drives people to the ED for faster treatment! We analyzed 1409 STEMI activations (69% male, 66.3 years old ± 13.7

STEMI 116

STEMI Coronary Emergency Medical Services OR 116

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

The biggest problem with STEMI criteria are false negatives – because this costs patient’s myocardium, with greater mortality and morbidity. The essential "immediate" decision to be made in "zero time" in the ED, is whether or not prompt cath and reperfusion is needed. Could this false positive cath lab activation been prevented?

STEMI 96

STEMI Coronary OR ED 96

EMDocs

FEBRUARY 24, 2024

1: How to Treat Infected Kidney Stones Spoon Feed All patients with infected ureteral stones necessitate a urine culture, antibiotics, and urology consultation in the ED, with the majority requiring admission for surgical intervention. Epub 2023 Nov 3. #2: Epub 2023 Oct 4. #3: Am J Emerg Med. 2024 Jan;75:137-142. 2023.10.049.

Coronary 77

Coronary STEMI ED OR 77

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

There’s inferior ST depression which is reciprocal to subtle lateral convex ST elevation, and the precordial T waves are subtly hyperacute – all concerning for STEMI(-)OMI of proximal LAD. There’s ST elevation I/aVL/V2 that meet STEMI criteria. This is obvious STEMI(+)OMI of proximal LAD. Non-STEMI or STEMI(-)OMI?

STEMI 52

STEMI Paramedic Coronary ALS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 21, 2023

ECG met STEMI criteria and was labeled STEMI by computer interpretation. J waves can also be induced by Occlusion MI (5), STEMI mimics including takotsubo and myocarditis complicated by ventricular arrhythmias (6, 7), and subarachnoid hemorrhage with VF (8). Take home : Not all STEs are STEMIs or OMIs. What do you think?

STEMI 52

STEMI ALS EMS OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 5, 2023

Here is his initial ED ECG: What do you think? Here it is: Obvious Inferior Posterior STEMI (+) OMI. Then the ED doc would be dependent on that first ECG. Initial troponin was: 3 ng/L We showed that the first troponin in acute STEMI is often negative in at least 27%. Or had not had a prehospital ECG on the ambulance.

STEMI 83

STEMI Coronary Ambulance ED 83

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 9, 2023

He has a history of STEMI and heart failure. link] Case continued The conventional algorithm diagnosed STEMI and so did the paramedics. On arrival in the ED, the patient denied any symptoms at all. A 50-something had syncope while driving. He was belted and it was low speed. He had a prehospital ECG.

STEMI 115

STEMI Coronary ED Paramedic 115

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 23, 2023

Notice on the right side of the image how the algorithm correctly measures STE sufficient in V1 and V2 to meet STEMI criteria in a man older than age 40. As most would agree, this ECG shows highly specific findings of anterolateral OMI, even with STEMI criteria in this case. Thus, this is obvious STEMI(+) OMI until proven otherwise.

STEMI 93

STEMI Coronary Paramedic OR 93

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

[link] Case continued She arrived in the ED and here is the first ED ECG. STEMI MINOCA versus NSTEMI MINOCA STEMI occurs in the presence of transmural ischaemia due to transient or persistent complete occlusion of the infarct-related coronary artery. I don't know if her pain was getting better or not. From Gue at al.

Coronary 108

Coronary E-9-1-1 STEMI ACS 108

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 25, 2024

The patient was brought to the ED and had this ECG recorded: What do you think? Cardiac arrest #3: ST depression, Is it STEMI? As we have often emphasized on Dr. Smith's ECG Blog ( See My Comment in the March 1, 2023 post) — DSI does not indicate acute coronary occlusion! After 1 mg of epinephrine they achieved ROSC.

Defibrillator 119

Defibrillator Coronary Epinephrine ACS 119

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 29, 2023

But because there was no new ST elevation, the ECG was signed off as “STEMI negative” and the patient waited to be seen. But the ECG still doesn’t meet STEMI criteria. It was therefore interpreted as “no STEMI” and the patient was treated with dual anti-platelets and referred to cardiology as “NSTEMI.” Am J Emerg Med 2023 2.

STEMI 74

STEMI Coronary OR ALS 74

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

He reports that this chest pain feels different than prior chest pain when he had his STEMI/OMI, but is unable to further describe chest pain. Sensitivity was 87% for OMI in our validation study (it was 34% for STEMI criteria). He reports feeling nauseated with emesis. The Queen was not used in real time. Even the Queen can be wrong.

Defibrillator 137

Defibrillator Coronary STEMI CPR 137

ACEP Now

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

The third annual Stanford Emergency Medicine Innovation Symposium (STEMI X) was held on June 22nd, 2023.This Topics covered included doctor-driven disruption, innovation through entrepreneurship, and the revolutionary power of AI in the ED. The post Stanford’s Innovation Exchange appeared first on ACEP Now.

STEMI 52

STEMI ED 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 19, 2023

Written by Jesse McLaren A 75 year-old patient with diabetes and end stage renal disease was sent to the ED after dialysis for three days of nausea, vomiting, loose stool, lightheadedness and fatigue. They were less likely to have STEMI on ECG, and more likely to be initially diagnosed as non-ACS. RR18 sat 99% HR 90 BP 90/60, afebrile.

STEMI 90

STEMI ACS OR ALS 90

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

In the context of remote rural communities, this can help emergency physicians advocate for their patients, and reduce reperfusion delays by days for STEMI(-)OMI == MY Comment , by K EN G RAUER, MD ( 9/8 /2023 ): == Today’s case is distinguished by its occurrence in a remote rural community ( where the nearest cath lab is a plane ride away ).

OR 133

OR STEMI Coronary Emergency Department 133

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.

STEMI 52

STEMI ED ACS Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

The conventional machine algorithm interpreted this ECG as STEMI. See this post of RV MI with both McConnell sign and "D" sign: Inferior and Posterior STEMI. Consider the following: We become attuned to looking for acute coronary occlusion in patients who present with acute symptoms to the ED ( E mergency D epartment ).

E-9-1-1 118

E-9-1-1 Coronary STEMI ALS 118

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

Post Cath ECG: Obviously completing MI with LVA morphology, and STE that meets STEMI criteria (but pt is still diagnosed as "NSTEMI"). Day 12 ECG: FINAL DIAGNOSIS: "NSTEMI" Despite the fact that his day 4 ECG easily meets STEMI criteria, the patient is diagnosed as NSTEMI. Setting – large, academic, suburban ED.

E-9-1-1 83

E-9-1-1 ACS STEMI Coronary 83

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 11, 2023

Later, I found old ECGs: 5 month prior in clinic: V5 and V6 look like OMI 9 months prior in clinic with no chest symptoms: V5 and V6 look like OMI 1 year prior in the ED with chest pain: V5 and V6 sure look like a STEMI For this ECG and chest pain in the ED, the Cath lab activated. But the angiogram was clean. There was no OMI.

STEMI 74

STEMI ED OR 74

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

male presents to the ED at 6:45 AM with left sided chest dull pressure that woke him up from sleep at 3am. He arrived to the ED at around 6:45am, and stated the pain has persisted. Here is his ED ECG at triage: Obvious high lateral OMI that does not quite meet STEMI criteria. The pain radiated to both shoulders.

Coronary 123

Coronary ACS OR EMR 123

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 17, 2024

for those of you who do not do Emergency Medicine, ECGs are handed to us without any clinical context) The ECG was read simply as "No STEMI." The RR ( R espiratory R ate ) in today's case is recorded as 14/minute at the time the patient presented to the ED on the day after their initial presentation.

E-9-1-1 141

E-9-1-1 ACS Emergency Department Coronary 141

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 1, 2012

This was a middle aged female with a h/o CAD who presented to the ED by EMS sudden onset of central chest pressure 45 min prior to ED arrival with associated diaphoresis and SOB.  There is LVH and there are ST-T abnormalities (large inferior T-waves and ST elevation, with reciprocal findings in aVL).

STEMI 52

STEMI CAD ED EMS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 8, 2024

She was diagnosed with a Non-STEMI and kept overnight for a next day angiogram. Medics recorded the above ECG and called a STEMI alert. Her symptoms at the time ECG #1 was obtained were CP and SOB — yet interpretation of this initial tracing prompted a STEMI alert. Her troponin I returned at 900 ng/L.

Coronary 75

Coronary STEMI EMS OR 75

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 29, 2015

Case history A middle-aged woman with a history of HTN, but no prior CAD, presented to the ED with chest pain. 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."

STEMI 40

STEMI Coronary ALS CAD 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

A 50-something male had onset of chest pain 1 hour prior to ED arrival. It was tested on a large database of known outcomes and was more than twice as senstivity as STEMI criteria and much better than cardiologists. It is constant, 9/10, left-sided CP that radiates into left arm and jaw. Has never had this before.

STEMI 130

STEMI Critical Care OR ED 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 15, 2023

Prior episodes had simply resolved after brief symptoms, but the current episode had lasted for 2 hours without improvement, so she presented to the ED. At triage she stated her pain is still persistent, but it is mildly improved compared to when she decided to come to the ED. No diaphoresis or vomiting. It is very subtle.

ACS 110

ACS ED STEMI OR 110

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 18, 2013

This was my thought: if this patient presented to the ED with chest pain, then this is an LAD occlusion. His ECG was repeated at this point: This shows a well developed anterior STEMI. To not see these findings is very common, and this patient would be given the diagnosis of NonSTEMI, with subsequent development of STEMI.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary ALS CAD 52

ACEP Now

APRIL 4, 2024

A 59-year-old male with a past medical history of a repaired ventricular septal defect (VSD), dextrocardia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and current smoker presented to the emergency department (ED). The patient initially presented to an outside ED and was subsequently transferred to our facility for continuity of care.

Coronary 40

Coronary STEMI CAD Emergency Department 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 14, 2023

A 40-something with persistent Ventricular Fibrillation presented after attempted prehospital resuscitation A 40-something with no previous cardiac history presented to the ED in persistent Ventricular Fibrillation after attempted prehospital resuscitation. The patient had a volatile clinical course but awoke neuro intact.

E-9-1-1 92

E-9-1-1 Defibrillator CPR STEMI 92