Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 17, 2016

Jason was very skeptical of STEMI. This also argues against STEMI. KEY POINTS from this CASE: The presenting history often provides invaluable clues to the likelihood of an acute cardiac event. ( This is a "low prevalence" history for an acute cardiac event.). He complained of 3 days of diarrhea and abdominal pain.

STEMI 52

STEMI OR Coronary EMS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 31, 2020

Their OMI Manifesto details how use of standard STEMI criteria results in an unacceptable level of inaccuracy, in which an estimated 25-30% of acute coronary occlusions are missed! The more leads with suspicious findings — the greater the concern for an acute ongoing event.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary EMR ALS 52

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 117

STEMI Coronary ACS ED 117

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 2, 2019

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."

STEMI 52

STEMI ALS ED OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 22, 2022

This is a very subtle change but cannot be anything other than an acute coronary event. Take home messages: 1- In STEMI/NSTEMI paradigm you search for STE on ECG. Comment by K EN G RAUER, MD ( 12/22 /2022 ): = Brilliant post by Dr. Aslanger — with emphatic illustration of "the difference in OMI vs STEMI philosophy" — in action!

STEMI 52

STEMI EMR Coronary OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 27, 2024

COACT: The COACT trial was fatally flawed, and because of it, many cardiologists are convinced that if there are no STEMI criteria, the patient does not need to go to the cath lab. N Engl J Med [Internet] 2019;Available from: [link] Should all patients with shockable arrest be taken to angiography regardless of STEMI or No STEMI?

Defibrillator 113

Defibrillator STEMI Coronary ALS 113

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 20, 2024

The cardiologist recognized that there were EKG changes, but did not take the patient for emergent catheterization because the EKG was “not meeting criteria for STEMI”. Troponin was elevated and no “STEMI” was seen on the EKG, so if it is acute MI, then “NSTEMI” is the diagnosis (however flawed), not a pathology on the differential.

CAD 125

CAD STEMI Coronary ACS 125

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

AUGUST 2, 2024

This was a machine read STEMI positive OMI. The meaning of this quote is that at times, something as obvious as the dramatic anterior lead ST elevation that we see in today's tracing is not the result of an acute LAD STEMI. His ECG is shown below. Pretty obvious anterior current of injury. What would you guess is the culprit artery?

STEMI 119

STEMI ALS OR 119

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 4, 2023

This patient could have very easily been overlooked, both because the ECG was STEMI negative and because the Q waves were attributed to an “old infarct”. Fortunately, Dr. Cho was not looking for STEMI ECG criteria but for an acute coronary occlusion. OMI or STEMI? As cardiology documented, “possible STEMI.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary OR ACS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 8, 2024

Subtle as a STEMI." (i.e., Here is the bottom line of the article: It is widely believed that hyperacute T-waves are a transitional state preceding ST Elevation 1–4 Thus, it is tempting to postulate that early cases of OMI will eventually evolve to STEMI; yet, our data contradicts that notion. This one is easy for the Queen.

OR 122

OR STEMI ICU Coronary 122

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

Even in patients whose moderate stenosis undergoes thrombosis, most angiograms show greater than 50% stenosis after the event. See "Prevention of cardiovascular disease events in those with established disease (secondary prevention) or at very high risk".) From Gue at al.

Coronary 109

Coronary E-9-1-1 STEMI ACS 109

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Quiz : What percent of full blown STEMI have an open artery with normal flow at angiogram? It too is "normal" and you decide that this is not OMI or STEMI and you just decide to get troponins. So despite the artifact — and even without any history — this initial ECG has to be interpreted as an acute event until proven otherwise.

STEMI 98

STEMI Emergency Department OR ALS 98

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

It does, in fact, the STE meets STEMI criteria since there is 1 mm of in V4 and V5. As discussed above in Dr. Smith's excellent discussion — serial ECGs, correlated to severity of patient symptoms soon confirmed the acute event in today's patient. This ECG was texted to me with no other information. What did I say?

OR 130

OR STEMI Coronary 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

It has been estimated that in the aggregate, they occur at a rate of about 3 per 1000 patients with acute MI, and most of these events occur in patients with STEMI. A mong patients with STEMI, ventricular septal rupture is the most common and free wall rupture is the least common.

STEMI 109

STEMI Coronary OR ALS 109

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 5, 2023

Here it is: Obvious Inferior Posterior STEMI (+) OMI. Initial troponin was: 3 ng/L We showed that the first troponin in acute STEMI is often negative in at least 27%. Aside on ECG Research: 20% of Definite diagnostic STEMI (Cox et al.) The cath lab was activated prehospital But imagine if the patient had walked in.

STEMI 96

STEMI Coronary ED Ambulance 96

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 17, 2023

Troponin T peaked at 2074 ng/L (very high, typical of OMI/STEMI). As a result — the onset of any acute event that may have occurred is uncertain. Post PCI the patient became gravely hypotensive and "shocky". She stabilized on dobutamine and levosimendan infusions that could be discontinued after 24 hours. 21, 2017 ).

STEMI 116

STEMI ACS OR ALS 116

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 11, 2023

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." Immediate versus delayed invasive intervention for non-stemi patients. Is there anything else on the tracing to corroborate inferior OMI?

E-9-1-1 123

E-9-1-1 ACS Coronary STEMI 123

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 19, 2023

This is diagnostic of infero-posterior OMI, but it is falsely negative by STEMI criteria and with falsely negative posterior leads (though they do show mild ST elevation in V4R). They were less likely to have STEMI on ECG, and more likely to be initially diagnosed as non-ACS.

STEMI 98

STEMI ACS OR ALS 98

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). But I'd be less certain about an acute event without more information and prior and/or serial tracings.

Defibrillator 135

Defibrillator Coronary STEMI CPR 135

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

APRIL 22, 2024

Patient still not having chest pain however this is more concerning for OMI/STEMI. Wellens' syndrome is a syndrome of Transient OMI (old terminology would be transient STEMI). As far as I can tell, there is only one randomized trial of immediate vs. delayed intervention for transient STEMI. Labs ordered but not yet drawn.

Coronary 117

Coronary STEMI ED OR 117

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

Smith : there is some minimal ST elevation in V2-V6, but does not meet STEMI criteria. Transient STEMI has been studied and many of these patients will re-occlude in the middle of the night. And dynamic ST-T wave changes between ECG #1 and ECG #2 confirm an acute event in progress. Is it normal STE? This is a "Transient OMI".

STEMI 115

STEMI ACS Critical Care Coronary 115

ECG & Echo Learning

JANUARY 18, 2023

STEMI , ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction ). 1 Initial diagnosis of STEMI ECG Management Recommendation Level of evidence A 12-lead ECG should be interpreted immediately (within 10 minutes) at first medical contact. I C If possible, patients should bypass non-PCI centres to a PCI-capable centre.

STEMI 40

STEMI Coronary OR Defibrillator 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 29, 2015

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." Can you diagnose an ACO (STEMI) when you also have LVH? The criteria of Armstrong et al. References 1.

STEMI 40

STEMI Coronary ALS CAD 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 22, 2024

Unfortunately, the cardiologist waited until the next day to refer the patient for angiography and intervention because patient did not meet criteria for "STEMI"." And Olivier finishes with this commentary: "Yet another example in favor of abandoning STEMI criteria for diagnosing OMI. Peak troponin: 128,000 ng/L.

Coronary 66

Coronary STEMI OR ALS 66

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 22, 2023

A prior ECG from 1 month ago was available: The presentation ECG was interpreted as STEMI and the patient was transferred emergently to the nearest PCI center. Recently the rate of true arrhythmic events related to fevers in the classic Brugada Type 1 syndrome was explored by Michowitz et al. So maybe she is better than I am.

E-9-1-1 92

E-9-1-1 CAD OR STEMI 92

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. No TIMI flow was listed in the report.

E-9-1-1 78

E-9-1-1 ACS STEMI Coronary 78

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Here is his ED ECG at triage: Obvious high lateral OMI that does not quite meet STEMI criteria. Furthermore, if this occurs at all, it is a rare event. He does have a recently diagnosed PE, and has not been taking his anticoagulation due to cost. He had a previous ECG on file: Proving the findings are new The cath lab was activated.

Coronary 121

Coronary ACS OR EMR 121

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

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. These are identical to Wellens' waves because Wellens' syndrome is a transient OMI (or transient STEMI) Learning Points 1. This is the first version of the AI system.

STEMI 128

STEMI Critical Care OR ED 128

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 24, 2018

This is all but diagnostic of STEMI, probably due to wraparound LAD The cath lab was activated. These include: i ) appreciation of how problematic the definition of “acute STEMI” can be; and , ii ) illustration of how dependence on this definition may result in overlooking acute coronary occlusion.

E-9-1-1 40

E-9-1-1 STEMI ACS Coronary 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 26, 2020

Is this inferor STEMI? Atrial Flutter with Inferior STEMI? Inferolateral ST elevation, vomiting, and elevated troponin The treating team did not identify the flutter waves and they became worried about possible "STEMI" (despite the unusual clinical scenario). The EM provider asked if the cardiologist thought it was a "STEMI."

STEMI 52

STEMI ACS Coronary Emergency Department 52

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.” the cardiologist 5.

STEMI 70

STEMI Coronary OR ALS 70

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

The emergency physician asked the advice of Dr. Reiters because of absence of STEMI criteria. But if the pain is persistent, as reported, then the patient must go to the cath lab even if the ECG suggests reperfusion. YOU TOO CAN HAVE THE PM Cardio AI BOT!! The T waves in high-lateral leads I and aVL are disproportionately tall and peaked.

STEMI 85

STEMI ACS OR 85

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

There’s mild inferior ST elevation in III that doesn’t meet STEMI criteria, but it’s associated with ST depression in aVL and V2 that makes it diagnostic of infero-posterior Occlusion MI (from either RCA or circumflex)– accompanied by inferior Q waves of unknown age. Are there any signs of occlusion or reperfusion?

OR 52

OR STEMI Coronary ACS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 19, 2020

There is STE in III and aVF which does not meet STEMI criteria due to insufficient STE in lead aVF. The interventionalists insisted that the ECGs did not meet STEMI criteria and cancelled the activation, stating that they would consider urgent cath after further stabilization. This is an obvious inferoposterior OMI.

E-9-1-1 52

E-9-1-1 STEMI ED EMS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 19, 2019

This morphology can be cause by or associated with cocaine: A Patient with Cocaine Chest Pain and Prehospital Computer interpretation of STEMI This is OMI of the anterior, lateral, and inferior walls until proven otherwise. But it does not meet STEMI criteria and it was not initially recognized. The cath lab was now activated.

STEMI 52

STEMI ED ACS OR 52