Background: The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the most useful diagnostic studies for identification of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The classic teaching is ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is defined as symptoms consistent with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) + new ST-segment elevation at the J point in at least 2 anatomically contiguous leads of at least 2mm (0.2mV) in men or at least 1.5mm in women in leads V2 – V3 and/or at least 1mm (0.1mV) in other contiguous leads or the limb leads, in the absence of a left bundle branch block, left ventricular hypertrophy, or other non-acute MI ST-segment elevation presentations. Unfortunately, the ECG may be non-diagnostic in nearly half of all patients who initially present with AMI. There are also STEMI equivalent patterns that are caused by occlusion of the coronary arteries that place a significant portion of the left ventricle at jeopardy and result in poor outcomes. This review article focused on 5 under recognized high-risk ECG patterns in the ACS patient that result in poor outcomes including malignant dysrhythmias, higher rates of cardiogenic shock, and death. Read more →
Tag Archive for: Wellens’ Syndrome
A 52 year old female with a past medical history of type II diabetes mellitus and tobacco abuse presents with a chief complaint of chest pain.
According to the patient she had about 2 – 3 months of stuttering, substernal chest pain without any radiation. She described the pain as pressure-like, with activity, but that it would typically resolve after a few minutes of rest. Today she awoke with substernal chest pain that never resolved and continued in the emergency department. She quantifies her pain as 7/10 and not relieved with 2L nasal cannula of oxygen, 325mg PO aspirin, and SL NTG x3.
BP 127/89 HR 76 RR 20 O2 sat 100% on 2L NC Temp 99.3
Awake, A&Ox3, appears uncomfortable
Mild JVD on examination
RRR w/o m/r/g
2+ pulses in her extremities, no edema
ECG is shown (No prior ECG for comparison)…..
The subject of this ECG of the Week is a 47 y/o hispanic female with a past medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and morbid obesity with a chief complaint of weakness. Per the patient she cleans houses for a living and for the past 2 weeks she gets weak and short of breath earlier in the day while cleaning houses. She used to be able to clean all day without issues, but for the past 2 weeks this has been getting less and less. No chest pain, vomiting, diaphoresis, or syncope. She has never had anything like this before. She comes to the ER today because this is her only day off. She has not had any symptoms today.
BP 156/94 HR 68 RR 14 O2 sat 100% on RA Temp 98.7
ECG from triage is shown…