ECG Guru - Instructor Resources - Inferior-posterior wall M.I. https://www.ecgguru.com/ecg/inferior-posterior-wall-mi en Inferior Wall M.I. With Subtle ST Elevation https://www.ecgguru.com/ecg/inferior-wall-mi-subtle-st-elevation-0 <div class="field field-name-field-ecg field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/ecg/inferior-wall-mi-subtle-st-elevation-0"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ecgguru.com/sites/default/files/IWMI%20w%20subtle%20STE.jpg" width="1800" height="945" alt="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-ecg-interpretation field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p class="MsoNormal">This ECG is a good example of an inferior wall M.I. that was confirmed and treated in the cath lab.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The ST segments are elevated in Leads II, III, and aVF, but the amount of elevation may look subtle to some.&nbsp;&nbsp; When the amount of elevation seems small, what other signs can help us recognize acute ST-elevation M.I.?&nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>PATIENT HISTORY AND PRESENTATION &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>This patient had acute chest pain, and was over the age of 50. We do not know his past medical history. His chest pain was described as substernal and epigastric, radiating to his back.&nbsp; He had nausea and diaphoresis.&nbsp; His past medical history is unknown, but it would be significant if he had a history of coronary artery disease, past M.I., smoking, metabolic syndrome, strong family history of heart disease, etc.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ST SEGMENT ELEVATION DISTRIBUTION&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>In acute STEMI, the elevation will be seen in “related leads”. That is, the leads that are affected will reflect a region of the heart that is supplied by the same artery. Some M.I.s are larger than others, affecting more leads, because some obstructions are more proximal than others in the artery.&nbsp; This ECG shows STE in the inferior wall leads:&nbsp; II, III, and aVF.&nbsp; The culprit artery for this patient was the right coronary artery, which supplies the inferior and posterior wall of the left ventricle, the right ventricle, and the right atrium in the majority of people.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>RECIPROCAL ST DEPRESSION&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>Finding reciprocal ST depression in the leads that are OPPOSITE the affected leads is a very reliable sign to confirm that the STEs are due to an acute M.I.&nbsp; In fact, often the reciprocal depression is “stronger” or easier to see than the elevation.&nbsp; It is important to teach your students how the standard leads are oriented to the heart, so they will recognize the 12-Lead ECG as a “map” of the heart.&nbsp; The reciprocal ST depression in this ECG is seen in Leads aVL and I (subtle), which are across the frontal plane from Lead III.&nbsp;&nbsp; We also note reciprocal ST depression in the precordial leads, especially notable in Leads V1 through V3.&nbsp; This can reflect the injured area extending up the back of the heart from the inferior wall (posterior wall).&nbsp; The R waves in V2 and V3 are a bit higher than normally expected, which could indicate a reciprocal view of pathological Q waves on the posterior wall.&nbsp; Print the ECG out on paper, turn it upside down, and look at V2 and V3 through the back.&nbsp; V2 and V3 will look like a “classic” STEMI.&nbsp; This should be approximately the view you would get from additional posterior leads.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ST SEGMENT SHAPE&nbsp; &nbsp;</strong>A “normal” ST segment is concave upward, like a smile.&nbsp; Of course, even an ST segment with a normal shape can be abnormal if it is elevated.&nbsp; But, when the shape is abnormal, even a slight amount of elevation can mean injury.&nbsp; What is “abnormal”?&nbsp; Convex upward, or “frowning” is abnormal, as is straight.&nbsp; A straight ST segment can be horizontal or sloped.&nbsp; In this ECG, you will see that the ST segments in II, III, and aVF are straight, shooting off the QRS in a straight line.&nbsp; Interestingly, the reciprocal ST depressions are straight, too, as they “mirror” the STEs.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ASSOCIATED ECG SIGNS &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>When other abnormal ECG signs are seen with STE, it adds evidence that we are looking at an acute M.I.&nbsp; ST elevation is a sign of acute injury, and it may be accompanied by T wave inversion, a sign of ischemia.&nbsp; We might see pathological Q waves, an ominous sign of necrosis.&nbsp; There is a Q wave in Lead III in this ECG, but Lead III often has Q waves.&nbsp; They are not considered pathological unless they are also present in II and aVF.&nbsp; We are happy to see no pathological Q waves, as they indicate an area of no electrical activity, like an electrical “hole” in the heart.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>DYSRHYTHMIAS&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>The presence of dysrhythmia does not indicate an acute M.I., and the absence of dysrhythmia does not exclude M.I.&nbsp; However, certain rhythms are often associated with acute M.I. due to impairment of blood supply to parts of the electrical system of the heart or to left ventricular weakening and failure.&nbsp; In inferior wall M.I., for example, it is common to see sinus bradycardia and AV node blocks like second-degree AVB, Type I or third-degree AVB with junctional escape.&nbsp; These reflect ischemia or damage to the SA or AV nodes, which usually have the same blood supply as the inferior wall.&nbsp; AV blocks from below the AV junction, such as second-degree AVB, Type II or third-degree AVB with ventricular escape, are often attributed to interventricular septal damage. &nbsp;Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation are always a danger in acute STEMI, due to altered cellular function in the damaged tissues.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>TAKE HOME POINT</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; When you are confronted with an ECG with subtle signs of acute ST-elevation M.I., look for associated clinical and ECG signs to help you interpret the ECG.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-rate-this-content field-type-fivestar field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Rate this content:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><form class="fivestar-widget" action="/taxonomy/term/634/feed" method="post" id="fivestar-custom-widget" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="clearfix fivestar-average-text fivestar-average-stars fivestar-form-item fivestar-hearts"><div class="form-item form-type-fivestar form-item-vote"> <div class="form-item form-type-select form-item-vote"> <select id="edit-vote--2" name="vote" class="form-select"><option value="-">Select rating</option><option value="20">Give Inferior Wall M.I. 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With Subtle ST Elevation 5/5</option></select> <div class="description"><div class="fivestar-summary fivestar-summary-average-count"><span class="average-rating">Average: <span >4.7</span></span> <span class="total-votes">(<span >10</span> votes)</span></div></div> </div> </div> </div><input class="fivestar-submit form-submit" type="submit" id="edit-fivestar-submit" name="op" value="Rate" /><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-3oBkwC97SS3kGWr9g4tuJ7pVp3yr71XbIOA9gdXAhjo" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="fivestar_custom_widget" /> </div></form></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-taxonomy field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Related Terms:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/ecg/stemi" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">STEMI</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/ecg/inferior-wall-mi-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Inferior Wall M.I.</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/ecg/inferior-posterior-wall-mi" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Inferior-posterior wall M.I.</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/ecg/st-elevation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ST elevation</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/ecg/reciprocal-st-depression" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Reciprocal ST depression</a></div></div></div><ul class="links inline"><li class="addtoany first last"><span><span class="a2a_kit a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_1"> <a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecgguru.com%2Fecg%2Finferior-wall-mi-subtle-st-elevation-0&amp;title=%20Inferior%20Wall%20M.I.%20With%20Subtle%20ST%20Elevation"><img src="/sites/all/modules/addtoany/images/share_save_256_24.png" width="256" height="24" alt="Share"/></a> </span> <script type="text/javascript"> <!--//--><![CDATA[//><!-- if(window.da2a)da2a.script_load(); //--><!]]> </script></span></li> </ul> Mon, 18 Jan 2016 06:24:36 +0000 Dawn 684 at https://www.ecgguru.com https://www.ecgguru.com/ecg/inferior-wall-mi-subtle-st-elevation-0#comments