The Skeptics' Guide to EM

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

She arrives in the emergency department (ED) with decreased level of consciousness and shock. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is responsible for the majority (60%) of all OHCAs in patients. She has a history of hypertension and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

EMR 130

EMR Coronary Defibrillator Life Support 130

EMS 12-Lead

MAY 20, 2022

Additional architectural changes include systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, endothelial dysfunction at the level of the coronary arterial bed, and ventricular diastolic dysfunction. This worried the crew of potential acute coronary syndrome and STEMI was activated pre-hospital. It is spread to V2 and V3.

Coronary 130

Coronary STEMI Firefighter ED 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 18, 2023

If you were working in a busy emergency department, would you like to be interrupted to interpret these ECGs or can these patients safely wait to be seen because of the normal computer interpretation? have published a number of warnings about the previous reassuring studies.[4,5]

STEMI 120

STEMI Emergency Department Coronary OR 120

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 27, 2024

, tells us that we physicians do not need to even look at this ECG until the patient is placed in a room because the computer says it is normal: Validity of Computer-interpreted “Normal” and “Otherwise Normal” ECG in Emergency Department Triage Patients I reviewed this article for a different journal and recommended rejection and it was rejected.

STEMI 118

STEMI Coronary ACS ED 118

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 20, 2024

The scan also showed “scattered coronary artery plaques”. __ Smith comment 1 : the appropriate management at this point is to lower the blood pressure (lower afterload, which increases myocardial oxygen demand). They too have dense white masses consistent with coronary atherosclerosis. The blue circle shows the LCx. Murakami MM.

CAD 127

CAD STEMI Coronary ACS 127

EMDocs

SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

Reference: emDOCs – NCSE Journal of Emergency Medicine – Review Case 4: 52-year-0ld male brought in by EMS with “code STEMI” ECG demonstrates ST depressions with rocket like T waves in V2-V4. This document covers high sensitivity troponin, risk disposition pathways, and STEMI equivalents.

STEMI 90

STEMI Coronary Emergency Department ICU 90

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 14, 2024

According to this data a triage ECG labeled ‘normal’ rules out the possibility of acute coronary occlusion. We also studied 7 years of Code STEMI patients requiring emergent reperfusion, and found that 4% presented with an ECG labeled ‘normal’, often confirmed by the final blinded interpretation.

STEMI 120

STEMI ACS Coronary Emergency Department 120

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 21, 2023

Below is the version standardized by PM Cardio app Meyers interpretation: Findings are specific for posterior (and also likely inferior) wall transmural acute infarction, most likely due to acute coronary occlusion (OMI). Smith Comment: Is is common for the artery to be open at angiogram in OMI, including full STEMI.

STEMI 98

STEMI Coronary Defibrillator EMS 98

EMDocs

OCTOBER 28, 2023

2: STREAM-2 RCT | Half-Dose Tenecteplase for STEMI Spoon Feed The STREAM-2 trial found half-dose tenecteplase was effective in treating STEMI patients ≥60, though with increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage. Epub 2023 Apr 20. #2:

STEMI 85

STEMI Emergency Department Coronary OR 85

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 17, 2024

Written by Bobby Nicholson, MD 67 year old male with history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented to the Emergency Department via ambulance with midsternal nonradiating chest pain and dyspnea on exertion. Pain improved to 1/10 after EMS administers 324 mg aspirin and the following EKG is obtained at triage. What do you think?

E-9-1-1 140

E-9-1-1 ACS Emergency Department Coronary 140

ACEP Now

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Many conditions outside of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) mimic ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but only a handful of cases have reported ST-elevations (STE) in the setting of pancreatic inflammation where underlying ACS was excluded. Mimics of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Click to enlarge.)

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary ACS Critical Care 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 13, 2024

Written by Destiny Folk, MD, Adam Engberg, MD, and Vitaliy Belyshev MD A man in his early 60s with a past medical history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipidemia presented to the emergency department for evaluation of chest pain. 4) Lastly, the QRS amplitude in V2 (both the R- and S- waves) are measured.

OR 121

OR STEMI Heart Attack Coronary 121

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 12, 2024

Written by Bobby Nicholson What do you think of this “STEMI”? A man in his 90s with a history of HTN, CKD, COPD, and OSA presented to the emergency department after being found unresponsive at home. Vital signs were within normal limits on arrival to the Emergency Department. Blood glucose was not low at 162 mg/dL.

STEMI 117

STEMI Coronary Emergency Department ACS 117

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

This was sent by anonymous The patient is a 55-year-old male who presented to the emergency department after approximately 3 to 4 days of intermittent central boring chest pain initially responsive to nitroglycerin, but is now more constant and not responsive to nitroglycerin. It is unknown when this pain recurred and became constant.

Defibrillator 137

Defibrillator Coronary STEMI CPR 137

ECG Medical Training

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

He is transported to the Emergency Department where care is transferred to a nurse. At the hospital a 12-lead ECG is recorded within 10 minutes and read by the attending physician, who activates the “Code STEMI” protocol. Is this a STEMI? So technically it is a STEMI equivalent. The answer is yes!

STEMI 52

STEMI Paramedic Coronary Emergency Department 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 11, 2024

Many systems now refrain from showing computer "normal" ECGs to the busy emergency physicians at triage because of very poorly conceived articles that say that if the computer algorithm says "normal," the emergency physician should not be bothered. It is clearly missed by the conventional algorithm. No further follow up is available.

STEMI 114

STEMI Coronary Emergency Department OR 114

EMS 12-Lead

APRIL 21, 2022

There is appreciable STE aVR with near-global STD that appropriately maximizes in Leads II and V5, and thus suggesting a circumstance of generic, diffusely populated, circumferential subendocardial ischemia versus occlusive coronary thrombus. [1] STEMI was activated and the patient went to Cath on arrival. link] [1] Mirand, D.

Coronary 130

Coronary ALS OR ACS 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 9, 2019

Post by Smith and Meyers Sam Ghali ( [link] ) just asked me (Smith): "Steve, do left main coronary artery *occlusions* (actual ones with transmural ischemia) have ST Depression or ST Elevation in aVR?" All are, however, clearly massive STEMI. This is her ECG: An obvious STEMI, but which artery? Widimsky P et al.

Coronary 52

Coronary STEMI ACS ALS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Upon arrival to the emergency department, a senior emergency physician looked at the ECG and said "Nothing too exciting." Hospital Course The patient was taken emergently to the cath lab which did not reveal any significant coronary artery disease, but she was noted to have reduced EF consistent with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Emergency Department 52

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

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 26, 2010

He presented to the Emergency Department with a blood pressure of 111/66 and a pulse of 117. He was rushed by residents into our critical care room with a diagnosis of STEMI, and they handed me this ECG: There is sinus tachycardia with ST elevation in II, III, and aVF, as well as V4-V6. He had this ECG recorded. The HCO3 was 8.

ACS 52

ACS STEMI OR Critical Care 52

EMS 12-Lead

APRIL 14, 2022

It should be emphasized here that this is a presentation of high-pretest probability for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). There is mixed overlap of ST-segment elevation (STE), ST-segment depression (STD), Hyperacute T waves (HATW), and deWinter pattern (which the ACC regards as a STEMI-equivalent but is better suited under the blanket of OMI).

ACS 130

ACS Paramedic Coronary ALS 130

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 98

STEMI Coronary Paramedic OR 98

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 9, 2024

Written by Colin Jenkins and Nhu-Nguyen Le with edits by Willy Frick and by Smith A 46-year-old male presented to the emergency department with 2 days of heavy substernal chest pain and nausea. The receiving emergency physician consulted with interventional cardiology who stated there was no STEMI. Is there STEMI?

STEMI 108

STEMI Coronary Heart Attack ACS 108

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 19, 2023

Written by Kaley El-Arab MD, edits by Pendell Meyers and Stephen Smith A 61-year-old male with hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented to the emergency department for chest tightness radiating to the back of his neck that has been intermittent for the past day or two. It is true this ECG does not meet STEMI criteria (there is 1.0

STEMI 52

STEMI ACS Coronary Epinephrine 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 7, 2013

Thus, this is both an anterior and inferior STEMI. How old is this antero-inferior STEMI? Although acute anterior STEMI frequently has narrow QR-waves within one hour of onset (1. Armstrong et al.)], the presence of such well developed anterior Q-wave suggests completed transmural STEMI. Could it be acute (vs.

STEMI 52

STEMI E-9-1-1 ALS Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

A 56 year old male with a history of diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease presented to the emergency department with sudden onset weakness, fatigue, lethargy, and confusion. At 2111, the troponin I peaked at 12.252 ng/mL (this is in the range of STEMI patients, quite high).

Coronary 121

Coronary STEMI Emergency Department OR 121

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 22, 2023

20% of cases that everyone would call a STEMI have a competely open artery by the time of angiogram 60-90 minutes later. Angiogram: Severe two-vessel coronary artery disease with possible co-culprits (90% proximal circumflex, 70% mid/distal RCA) in the setting of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction.

ED 120

ED Coronary CAD STEMI 120

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 18, 2014

Thus, this is BOTH an anterior and inferior STEMI in the setting of RBBB. How old is this antero-inferior STEMI? Although acute anterior STEMI frequently has narrow QR-waves within one hour of onset (1. the presence of such well developed, wide, anterior Q-wave suggests completed transmural STEMI. Could it be acute (vs.

STEMI 52

STEMI E-9-1-1 ALS Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 1, 2024

AslangerE A 65-year-old gentleman presented to the emergency department after experiencing two recent ICD shocks in the preceding hours. A recent angiogram report indicated a totally occluded left anterior descending artery (LAD) and right coronary artery (RCA), with 30-40% narrowings in the left circumflex artery (LCx).

Coronary 114

Coronary EMR STEMI Emergency Department 114

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

A 50 year old presented to the emergency department of a remote rural community (where the nearest cath lab is a plane ride away) with one hour of mild chest pain radiating to the back and jaw, and an ECG labeled ‘normal’ by the computer interpretation. The Need for Immediate Transport?

OR 131

OR STEMI Coronary Emergency Department 131

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). Figure 1: EKG for Dextrocardia showing STEMI. The second EKG was concerning for STEMI in the precordial leads (see figure 1).

Coronary 40

Coronary STEMI CAD Emergency Department 40

ECG & Echo Learning

JANUARY 18, 2023

This page summarises the most current recommendations for the management of acute coronary syndromes with persistent ST-segment elevations (i.e STEMI , ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction ). I B Patients transferred to PCI centres can bypass the emergency department to undergo primary PCI without delay.

STEMI 40

STEMI Coronary OR Defibrillator 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 29, 2023

It was ongoing on arrival in the emergency department. But because there was no new ST elevation, the ECG was signed off as “STEMI negative” and the patient waited to be seen. The emergency physician was called to see the patient 90 minutes later after the troponin I returned at 1100 ng/L. What do you think?

STEMI 71

STEMI Coronary OR ALS 71

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

This has been termed a “STEMI equivalent” and included in STEMI guidelines, suggesting this patient should receive dual anti-platelets, heparin and immediate cath lab activation–or thrombolysis in centres where cath lab is not available. aVR ST segment elevation: acute STEMI or not? Incidence of an acute coronary occlusion.

Coronary 52

Coronary ACS STEMI ALS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 15, 2013

This was a male in his 50's with a history of hypertension and possible diabetes mellitus who presented to the emergency department with a history of squeezing chest pain, lasting 5 minutes at a time, with several episodes over the past couple of months. New ST elevation diagnostic of STEMI [equation value = 25.3 de Wood et al.

Coronary 52

Coronary STEMI ALS Emergency Department 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 18, 2013

I want all to know that, with the right mind preparation, and the use of the early repol/LAD occlusion formula, extremely subtle coronary occlusion can be detected prospectively, with no other information than the ECG. His ECG was repeated at this point: This shows a well developed anterior STEMI. Ann Emerg Med 1998;31(1):3-11.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary ALS CAD 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 20, 2013

Note that they finally have laid to rest the new or presumably new LBBB as a criteria for STEMI. Note that they finally have laid to rest the new or presumably new LBBB as a criteria for STEMI. Also note that they allow ST depression c/w posterior MI to be a STEMI equivalent. Kurkciyan et al.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary ACS Emergency Department 52