Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 27, 2024

There were zero patients in this study with a "normal" ECG who had any kind of ACS! Old ‘NSTEMI’ A history of coronary artery disease and a stent to the same territory further increases pre-test likelihood of acute coronary occlusion, including in-stent thrombosis. So this study is actually worthless.

STEMI 105

STEMI Coronary ACS ED 105

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 1, 2023

This pattern occurs regardless of whether the cause is ACS (decreased supply) or any other cause of decreased supply or increased demand. You must understand that this pattern does not differentiate ACS from other causes of supply/demand mismatch.

Allergic Reaction 52

Allergic Reaction E-9-1-1 Epinephrine Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 24, 2018

Therefore, this does not meet the definition of myocardial infarction ( 4th Universal Definition of MI ), which requires at least one troponin above the 99% reference range. You can see the deficiency of the definition of MI. Two negative troponins do not exclude the possibility of short-lived acute coronary occlusion.

E-9-1-1 52

E-9-1-1 STEMI ACS Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 9, 2024

ACS then becomes less likely. Before the lab values returned this patient had a n emergent coronary CT angiogram done that ruled out CAD. A false positive cath lab activation is also off course acceptable for this diagnosis if you cannot get an emergent coronary CT angiogram. There are no coronary stenoses.

Coronary 94

Coronary CAD ACS OR 94

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 15, 2023

Thus, this does NOT meet STEMI criteria (though, as of 2022, it is a formal "STEMI equivalent", assuming everyone agrees that this is de Winter morphology, for which there is currently no objective definition). Even if a patient's ECG does meet STEMI criteria, it may not be perceived so. What a farce.

STEMI 93

STEMI Coronary ACS OR 93

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 19, 2023

The commonest causes of MINOCA include: atherosclerotic causes such as plaque rupture or erosion with spontaneous thrombolysis, and non-atherosclerotic causes such as coronary vasospasm (sometimes called variant angina or Prinzmetal's angina), coronary embolism or thrombosis, possibly microvascular dysfunction. This is not the case.

E-9-1-1 123

E-9-1-1 Coronary ACS BLS 123

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

When Pendell and I are coding ECGs for the Queen's training, this is one category: "Definite ischemia, difficult to differentiate between posterior OMI and subendocardial ischemia." In our opinion it should not be given in ACS unless you are committed to the cath lab. In my opinion, I think it looks more like subendocardial ischemia.

ACS 87

ACS Coronary ALS CAD 87

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 9, 2024

Serial ECGs enhance the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome. Similarly, the OMI paradigm respects ACS as a dynamic process in which ECG changes reflect the phase of myocardial injury and risk stratify which patients may benefit from emergent PCI. Perform serial ECGs even if symptoms are constant. In fact, use of antidyrhythimcs (e.g.,

STEMI 88

STEMI Coronary Heart Attack ACS 88

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

More past history: hypertension, tobacco use, coronary artery disease with two vessel PCI to the right coronary artery and circumflex artery several years prior. This is diagnostic of ACS; it appears to be a reperfused acute inferior OMI. The 3rd inferior lead ( = lead II ) — shows definite ST-T wave flattening.

Defibrillator 134

Defibrillator Coronary STEMI CPR 134

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

References: 1) See this study showing an association between morphine and mortality in Non-STE-ACS: Meine TJ, Roe M, Chen A, Patel M, Washam J, Ohman E, Peacock W, Pollack C, Gibler W, Peterson E. Association of intravenous morphine use and outcomes in acute coronary syndromes: Results from the CRUSADE Quality Improvement Initiative.

E-9-1-1 82

E-9-1-1 ACS STEMI Coronary 82

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 13, 2024

Distilling this case into its most salient components, a man with multiple risk factors for coronary disease is presenting with several days of chest pain and markedly elevated troponin with no other reason to explain the lab abnormality ( e.g. sepsis). The patient has ACS by history, active pain, and an elevated troponin.

Coronary 90

Coronary ACS Emergency Manager Emergency Management 90

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. Sensitivity of POCUS even for definite wall motion abnormalities is far from perfect. The ECG only tells you there is ischemia, not the etiology of it.

Coronary 52

Coronary ACS EMS ALS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 4, 2023

Fortunately, Dr. Cho was not looking for STEMI ECG criteria but for an acute coronary occlusion. As he documented, “This patient is experiencing chest pain consistent with an acute coronary syndrome. Start using the terms acute coronary occlusion and occlusion MI. That’s exactly what happened in this case.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary OR ACS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 5, 2024

80%) and definitely too much for hour to hour. However, the Definition of MI requires at least one value above the 99th percentile, which for a male is 34 ng/L (16 ng/L for women). Thus, these troponins are very concerning for ACS, and subsequent ones will probably be diagnostic of acute MI. of the time.

ACS 110

ACS ALS OR STEMI 110

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 31, 2023

-See this study showing an association between morphine and mortality in ACS: Use of Morphine in ACS is independently associated with mortality, at odds ratio of 1.4. Association of intravenous morphine use and outcomes in acute coronary syndromes: Results from the CRUSADE Quality Improvement Initiative.

STEMI 80

STEMI Coronary ACS OR 80

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

We who know ischemic ECGs know that really when T-wave inversion is specific for coronary thrombosis that it indicates reperfusion of the artery, not active occlusion. that is, show a pattern of labile ST-T wave changes not due to an acute coronary event. I personally can hardly wait for that future version! Some patients do this.

E-9-1-1 111

E-9-1-1 Coronary EMS ED 111

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 8, 2023

Electrocardiographic Diagnosis of Acute Coronary Occlusion Myocardial Infarction in Ventricular Paced Rhythm Using the Modified Sgarbossa Criteria. Immediate ECG diagnosis of an acute coronary lesion resulting in occlusion myocardial infarction is critical in the modern reperfusion era. Annals of Emergency Medicine 2021.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary ED ACS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 13, 2023

This is acute ACS, but it almost always seen in a pain free state. So this ECG was immediately recorded: Indeed, as predicted, a patient with previous Wellens' waves who now definitely has chest pain has acute Occlusion, with new ST elevation in I, aVL, V2-V5. An ED ECG, if recorded with pain, should show LAD OMI.

ED 52

ED ACS Coronary Paramedic 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

The 50-something patient with history of coronary stenting and slightly reduced LV ejection fraction. There is definite reperfusion. which would suggest reduced rates of major adverse cardiac events with coronary artery bypass grafting." This alone could be due to LVH, but V4 could NOT be due to LVH. He awoke with naloxone.

Overdose 52

Overdose OR Coronary ACS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 8, 2022

The ECG is diagnostic for acute transmural infarction of the anterior and lateral walls, with LAD OMI being the most likely cause (which has various potential etiologies for the actual cause of the acute coronary artery occlusion, the most common of which is of course type 1 ACS, plaque rupture with thrombotic occlusion).

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary ACS ED 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 19, 2023

But because the patient had no chest pain or shortness of breath, it was not deemed to be from ACS. They were less likely to have STEMI on ECG, and more likely to be initially diagnosed as non-ACS. Dialysis patients have a high rate of ACS without chest pain and high rate of delayed diagnosis and delayed reperfusion 2.

STEMI 86

STEMI ACS OR ALS 86

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 27, 2021

If it is maximal in V1-V4, and the patient's presentation in consistent with ACS (as this certainly is), then it is DIAGNOSTIC of Occlusion with 90% specificity (We have an upcoming article that proves this). Angiogram: "ACS - Non ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction. STEMI was defined by the 4th universal definition of MI.

STEMI 52

STEMI ACS Coronary ED 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 3, 2018

When he showed it to me, I said "Ouch, looks like an acute coronary occlusion. no LBBB or paced rhythm), acute coronary occlusion MI (OMI) is diagnosed in approximately 75% of cases. The Smith-Modified Sgarbossa Criteria Accurately Diagnose Acute Coronary Occlusion in Emergency Department Patients With Ventricular Paced Rhythm.

Coronary 52

Coronary STEMI Paramedic ALS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 28, 2019

Terminal QRS distortion is definitely significant for anterior OMI in V2 and V3: An intoxicated, agitated, 20-something with chest pain Here is an ECG from one month ago: There is a definite change in the inferior leads, with new ST elevation. K EY P oints : This patient has known coronary disease. It was stented.

Coronary 52

Coronary ACS ED OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 24, 2013

He underwent coronary stenting (uncertain which artery). Therefore, even with a normal or non-diagnostic ECG, a 50 year old male patient should undergo serial ECGs and troponins and be admitted to a monitored bed until MI or ACS can be ruled out. The patient went home and, in front of his wife, he collapsed.

CPR 52

CPR ACS Coronary OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 17, 2023

He had no symptoms of ACS. His HEAR score (before troponin resulted) was documented at 3, with documentation stating "low suspicion for ACS." A troponin this high in a patient with no known chronic troponin elevation, and active acute ACS symptoms, has a very high likelihood of type 1 ACS regardless of the ECG.

OR 52

OR STEMI ACS Emergency Department 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 10, 2019

QRS onset is the best location for ST segment comparison, and is the location recommended by Universal Definition of MI. The pediatric team felt it might be ACS, but on review of his prior ECGs, it was thought to be really unchanged from the 2 prior and more consistent with myocarditis. This interpretation triggered a rapid response.

E-9-1-1 52

E-9-1-1 Coronary OR ACS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 10, 2023

A CT Coronary angiogram was ordered. Here are the results: --Minimally obstructive coronary artery disease. --LAD Although a lesion is not visible anatomically on this CT scan, coronary catheter angiography could be considered based on Cardiology evaluation." A repeat troponin returned at 0.45 CAD-RADS category 1. --No

Coronary 52

Coronary STEMI CAD OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2023

Note that as many as 7% of patients with acute coronary syndrome have chest pain reproducible on palpation [Lee, Solomon]. which reduces the pre-test probability of acute coronary syndrome by less than 30% [McGee]. In an attempt to clarify language, a consensus definition was developed. per 100,000 to 11 per 100,000 [Rosso].

E-9-1-1 120

E-9-1-1 OR Coronary ACS 120

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 6, 2022

S yncope is an uncommon presentation of ACS, but anginal equivalents are more likely in older patients with diabetes 2. On discharge the inferior deWinter waves resolved and the lateral T waves deflated and inverted. Take home 1. C ircumflex occlusions can have subtle to no ECG changes 3. Y ou can’t trust ECG's labeled "normal" 4.

STEMI 52

STEMI ACS Coronary OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 26, 2019

There is definite STE inferior and lateral but it just doesn't look like true positive STE to me. I wouldn't activate the lab for this EKG alone, but if the patient is clinically compatible with ACS you could call a heart alert. If I had known there was no definite chest pain or pressure this would have been slightly more confident.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary OR ED 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 26, 2017

I remained unconvinced that this was due to ACS. With the added history, and the entirety of the presentation, it was determined by cardiology that the clinical presentation was not due to ACS. When a heart with LVH is under stress, the ST segments may rise and become convex. When the stress is relieved, it resolves.

STEMI 52

STEMI ACS ED Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 17, 2022

ACUTE MI (I allowed Acute MI to be in the report because I knew there would be an elevated troponin from ischemia, which is the definition of acute MI -- but in this case it would most likely be a Type 2 MI from tachycardia) There is also LA-RA lead reversal. V5, 6) is 97% specific for OMI in a patient population at high risk of ACS.

Coronary 52

Coronary ACS OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 3, 2024

RBBB + LAFB in the setting of ACS is very bad. Some patients have baseline RBBB with LAFB, but in patients with likely ACS, these are associated with severe infarction with cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock or impending shock. Patients with ACS and RBBB/LAFB usually have a left main vs. proximal LAD. Learning Points: 1.

ACS 118

ACS ED Coronary EMS 118

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Whenever the only presenting symptom is syncope, without any other symptom, I am very skeptical that coronary occlusion (OMI) is the etiology. Abdominal pain can of course be a symptom of ACS, but it was brief and seemed to have resulted in a vasovagal event. It is certainly possible, but the pretest probability is very low.

ACS 52

ACS ED Coronary STEMI 52

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. This case represents the same physiologic event as OMI in terms of the result on the myocardium, therefore with identical ECG features, however there may not be ACS!

STEMI 52

STEMI ACS CAD OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

The fire department, who operate at an EMT level in this municipality, arrived before us and administered 324 mg of baby aspirin to the patient due to concern for ACS. Such cases are classified as MINOCA (Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructed Coronary Arteries). An angiogram is a "lumenogram;" most plaque is EXTRALUMINAL!!

Emergency Department 52

Emergency Department E-9-1-1 Coronary STEMI 52