Sunday, October 11, 2020

Cardiologist declines taking patient to the cath lab. Patient dies.

Sent by anonymous, written by Pendell Meyers


A middle aged man presented with acute shortness of breath. Apparently he denied chest pain. Other than tachycardia, Other than slight tachycardia, vitals were within normal limits (including oxygen saturation).

Here is his first ED ECG:

What do you see?








Findings:
 - Sinus tachycardia
 - Poor R wave progression
 - STD in leads V3 and V4
 - there is almost an appearance of STE in V6, but it is not definite
 - there is also slight STE in aVL with slight reciprocal STD in inferior leads 

Impression: Diagnostic of posterior OMI [and the subtle lateral involvement (aVL) supports this] until proven otherwise. STD maximal in V1-V4 (in this case V3-V4) is in my opinion the single best way to identify posterior OMI on the anterior 12 lead ECG. As always, takotsubo cardiomyopathy and focal pericarditis can mimic OMI, but takotsubo almost never mimics posterior MI, and both are diagnoses of exclusion after a negative cath.

His first troponin returned "elevated" (level not available). Another ECG was recorded based on the elevated troponin and ongoing symptoms:

The heart rate is slightly lower. The posterior and lateral OMI findings persist, with STD maximal in V3 and V4.




The provider contacted cardiology to discuss the case, but cardiology "didn't think it was a STEMI, didn't think he needed emergent cath."


He was admitted to the cardiology floor and diagnosed with an NSTEMI. About two hours after admission, he suffered a cardiac arrest (whether it was VF/VT or PEA is not available) and expired. 

Like other cases on this blog who died before cath was done, I cannot prove that this patient had OMI. But I would submit to you that it is overwhelmingly likely that this was the case. Could this outcome have been prevented with emergent cath? I think there is a significant chance that it could have been.


Learning Points:

STD maximal in V1-V4 (in the absence of another reason for STD like appropriate discordance from an abnormal QRS complex) is concerning for posterior OMI until proven otherwise.

When the anterior 12 lead is not convincing for posterior OMI, posterior leads may help. When the anterior 12 lead is convincing as in this case, posterior leads don't add much and may actually mislead you or the cardiologist.

Canto et al. (JAMA 2000) showed that 1/3 of patients with STEMI, and 1/3 of patients with NSTEMI, present without chest pain.  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/192825

Further discussion:

Dr. Smith and I will soon be publishing a paper showing that expert ECG interpretation is greatly superior to standard STEMI criteria. "ST depression maximal in V1-V4" is one of the key features we found that helped experts identify OMI that the STEMI criteria missed. We submitted this study first to JACC, who rejected it because "No one is strictly limited by STEMI criteria. The 4th universal definition mentions ST depression, posterior MI, and T wave changes."

We also know for a fact that STEMI criteria misses about half of OMIs, at least 25% of "NSTEMIs" are found to have an occluded infarct artery at next day angiography (and since many occluded arteries open over the subsequent 24 hours, this underestimates the number of OMI), and LCX occlusions are the most commonly missed (OMIs that usually cause posterior and/or lateral ECG findings). See OMI Manifesto for references.

Despite the fact that there is no publication that has candidly recorded how cardiologists actually interpret the STEMI guidelines, we all know our own experience at our institutions as to how the majority of cardiologists interpret them in actual practice. Furthermore, we receive cases from around the world that give us additional evidence that this problem is likely highly prevalent. The whole paradigm is literally called "STEMI" vs. "NSTEMI." It's not surprising, and it's arguably not even their fault - for the majority of physicians who manage patients with symptoms of ACS, the cath lab might as well be called the "STEMI criteria lab," because it seems to us and our audience that in most hospitals around the world, only a patient with an ECG with full blown obvious STEMI criteria (which does NOT include anything about the posterior wall) is likely to be going there emergently.

At the same time that the editorial board of JACC rejects our paper because they claim that all cardiologists are very much on board with taking NSTEMI patients with possible posterior MI or ST depression to the cath lab, we are left hanging in reality where it is very difficult to get posterior MI recognized by cardiology as an entity. 

We have countless cases of missed posterior MI on this blog, including these:

Interventionalist at the Receiving Hospital: "No STEMI, no cath. I do not accept the transfer."
















===================================

MY Comment by KEN GRAUER, MD (10/11/2020):

===================================

It cannot be stated any clearer than what Dr. Meyers states above. I will paraphrase ==> “the STEMI criteria that all-too-many cardiologists rigidly adhere to, will miss as many as half of all OMIs — and — at least 25% of NSTEMIs are later found to have been missed OMI”.

  • Our blog features countless cases of missed OMI — with (as per Dr. Meyers) — missed posterior MI from acute LCx occlusion being the site most commonly overlooked.


Today’s post features yet one more case of a missed posterior OMI — with tragic consequence because the cardiology team “didn’t think this was a STEMI”  and “didn’t think the patient needed emergent cath”.

  • Our GOALS for continuing to post these cases in Dr. Smith’s ECG Blog are: i) To support readers in their quest to continually enhance their ECG interpretation skills (many of these readers already having attained expertise in recognizing OMIs); andii) In our hope that some of these missed cases will get back to those cardiologists who continue to ignore the possibility that an ECG not satisfying millimeter STEMI criteria might nevertheless be diagnostic of OMI ( = acute coronary Occlusion-based MI) — and, in need of prompt cath and reperfusion.


PEARL #1: The patient in today’s case presented with acute shortness of breath but no chest pain. The lack of chest pain in the history could have been part of the reason the cardiology team did not activate the cath lab. That said, it is important to realize that — Not all patients with acute MI have chest pain! I’ve previously emphasized this important truism (in My Comment at the bottom of the page in the September 15, 2020 post in Dr. Smith’s ECG Blog) — but for clarity, I’ve consolidated key findings from the Framingham Studies regarding the incidence of Silent MI in Figure-1.

  • As highlighted in the 3rd bullet in Figure-1 — shortness of breath is the most common non-chest-pain presenting symptom of acute MI. The absence of chest pain in today’s patient should not have dissuaded the cardiology team from at least considering OMI, given how suggestive ECG findings were for that diagnosis.


Figure-1: Key points from the Framingham Studies regarding the entity of “Silent” MI (See text).



Dr. Meyers highlights above the ECG findings in today’s case that should suggest acute posterior OMI until proven otherwise. I focus my comments on some additional points for facilitating ECG recognition.

  • For clarity — I’ve put both tracings in today’s case together in Figure-2.


Figure-2: The 2 ECGs in today’s case (See text).



MY Thoughts on ECG #1: Admittedly, the quality of resolution for the 2 tracings in Figure-2 is suboptimal — with variation of QRST morphology from one-beat-to-the-next in many leads making interpretation a challenge. That said — the diagnosis should still be made.

  • The rhythm in ECG #1 is sinus tachycardia at 115-120/minute. A PVC is seen (in leads aVR,aVL,aVF). The PR interval is normal. QRS duration is not prolonged. The QTc may be upper normal, or slightly prolonged. There is low voltage in the limb leads. The frontal plane axis is normal (about +20 degrees). There is borderline voltage for LVH by Peguero Criteria.


Regarding Q-R-S-T Changes in ECG #1:

  • There are no Q waves.
  • R wave progression is slightly delayed (ie, Transition occurs between leads V4-to-V5). That said — a small-but-define initial r wave is seen in leads V1, V2 and V3.
  • ST-T wave abnormalities are present. There is nonspecific ST-T wave flattening in several limb leads (though I fully acknowledge the deceptive variation in ST-T wave morphology in these limb leads). That said — what is indisputable is that maximal ST depression is consistently seen in all complexes in leads V3 and V4!
  • As per Dr. Meyers — there is also suggestion of slight ST elevation in lead V6 (and possibly also in lead aVL) — albeit suboptimal resolution with variation in ST-T wave morphology makes validity of this finding uncertain.


PEARL #2: While fully acknowledging the above noted beat-to-beat variation in ST-T wave morphology — each of the QRS complexes in leads V3 and V4 are consistent in showing that ST depression is maximal in these chest leads. It is this consistency that tells us this is a real finding!


PEARL #3: I’ve described the Mirror Test on a number of occasions in Dr. Smith’s ECG Blog (Please see My Comment in the September 21, 2020 post). This simple visual aid facilitates recognition of acute posterior MI. By flipping the ECG over and holding it up to the light — you see the mirror-image of the anterior leads. Since the LV posterior wall is oppositely directed to the anterior wall — this mirror-image indirectly assesses the posterior wall.

  • DOESN’T the mirror-image of leads V3 and V4 in Figure-2 show an ST-T wave shape that looks like an acute MI? (ie, with downward coving ST elevation that ends with T wave inversion).


PEARL #4: Remember the principle of “neighboring leads”. Given certainty that the maximal ST depression in leads V3 and V4 is real — we can often pick up additional leads with less striking abnormalities that we nevertheless know are real because they are “neighboring” leads.

  • Note that all 4 of the complexes ST in lead V2 show ST straightening, with marked angulation as the ST segment transitions to the ascending limb of the T wave (thin RED lines in lead V2). While I admittedly would not have known what to do with this subtle finding IF it was an isolated abnormality — given its proximity to leads V3 and V4 (that we know are abnormal) — there is little doubt that this subtle ST straightening and abrupt angulation in lead V2 also is abnormal.


MY Thoughts on ECG #2: The 2nd ECG in this case ( = ECG #2) was obtained in the ED some time after ECG #1 (although we are not told how long this was after ECG #1, nor whether there was a change in the patients symptoms or condition).

  • There is a definite change between these 2 tracings — although it is EASY to overlook unless one puts both tracings together (as is done in Figure-2) — and compares tracings by going lead-by-lead from one tracing to the next.
  • There is still sinus tachycardia in ECG #2 — although the heart rate has now slowed to ~100/minute.
  • There are no PVCs in ECG #2.
  • The subtle suggestion of slight ST elevation in leads aVL and V6 is no longer seen.
  • The main difference between these 2 tracings — is that the upright T waves in leads V1-thru-V4 in ECG #1 are practically gone! (except for a tiny, residual upright T wave in lead V2 of ECG #2). Depending on clinical circumstances — this change in T wave morphology in no less than 4 leads could either be rate-related (ie, the slower heart rate in ECG #2) — or could possibly reflect a dynamic ST-T wave change in this patient with ongoing OMI.


BOTTOM Line: In view of the 2 serial tracings in today’s case — one has to at least consider a posterior OMI in this patient with new dyspnea until proven otherwise.



19 comments:



  1. We lost a patient after 4 days of admission despite being diagnosed with Nstemi as senior cardiologist under whom patient was admitted believed in stabilizing her heart failure and then taking Patient for pci. She arrested before anything could be done on 4th day. I repeatedly requested him to perform pci however he declined and as junior cardiologist you have limited say. This highlights importance of shared decision making and better yo err in side of caution

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    1. Dr. Siddharth — THANK YOU for your comment. As a Professor and Core Faculty for 30 years at our Family Medicine Program — I have encountered the difficult issue you describe that occurs when a more senior clinician (be this resident, fellow, Attending or other) has a different opinion that someone “less senior”. I long ago learned the importance of listening to concerns from others. At the least, conveying an attitude of open receptivity to input from others provides an optimal learning opportunity for the less senior provider. But SO OFTEN I have found that nurses, other paramedical personel, medical students and residents would raise points that were completely valid, and which led to BETTER care. So I completely share your plea for receptivity to input from others with SHARED decision-making! THANKS again for your comments.

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    2. Between ecg and pci there is plenty of room for cardiac CT or MRI with FFR in case of CT and Adenosine stress in case of MRI.

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    3. Totally agree with the possible use of emergent CT coronary angiogram in this case, for when cardiology doesn’t recognize posterior OMI. I do not have knowledge of the use of MRI in this case. A stress test I would strongly advise against as this is active coronary occlusion. But you probably mean for other cases without ongoing symptoms and equivocal ECGs - this is a huge question by itself. Thanks!

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  2. Hi, Thank you!
    Is there a incomplete LBBB, with broad positive V6 and I?
    And therefore modified sgarbosa criteria need to be used (appears it would be positive anyway)?

    Thanks again.

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    1. Hi. The entity of “incomplete LBBB” is an elusive one. First — it is RARE! I’ve searched for it over decades and have rarely been able to make a definite diagnosis. The reasons are: i) because it often resembles LVH and/or LAHB (both of which may each prolong QRS duration slightly [by ~0.01-0.02 second]); and ii) because (as per Marriott) — “incomplete LBBB” is a retrospective diagnosis made with certainty only after LVH progresses with loss of normal septal q waves and additional QRS widening until finally the diagnosis of a “complete” LBBB is made — at which point you can go back in time to prior ECGs that showed an “intermediate” stage between complete LBBB and a previously non-widened tracing and say that “in the past that intermediate stage probably reflected ‘incomplete’ LBBB”.

      As to ECG #1 in today’s case — we are unfortunately dealing with suboptimal resolution (variation in QRST morphology from one-beat-to-the-next in many leads) — and this makes assessment of the leads we depend on to diagnose incomplete LBBB ( = leads I, aVL & V6) difficult. So I woud NOT call ECG #1 an “incomplete LBBB” because: i) Anterior leads look more like LVH than a conduction defect (especially with preservation of the initial anterior r wave); ii) The QRS does not look prolonged; and iii) I know that true incomplete LBBB is rare.

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    2. Thank You, It is very much appreciated!

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  3. 3 years ago I was having chest pressure, heaviness in left arm, throat felt like it was fighting. This went on for 2 months, I went to the ER several times. Elevated BP, but normal EKG. I would be given Nitroglycerin and observed overnight. I had to be my own patient advocate. I kept after my PCP till I was referred to a cardiologist. Before I could make my appointment I had another trip to the ER. This time besides the on going symptoms tingling in my jaws haf started. My EKG was still normal, BP was elevated. I insisted the ER physician call the Cardiologist I was to see. Then I was transferred to the hospital the Cardiologist uses. At 4am I started having severe chest pressure and nitroglycerin was not stopping this. I yelled at the nurse to call the Cardiologist. The Cardiologist came in early and did Heart Cath. Was immediately transferred to a hospital 2 hours away. The Heart Cath findings were 98%, 95%,90% and 60% blockages. Ended up having Heart By-pass surgery. Now a days you have to be your own patient advocate. You know your body!

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    1. Thank you for sharing your experience. Yes, it is clearly important for the patient (and supportive family) to be their advocate.

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  4. Share another great article: https://rebelem.com/the-difoccult-trial-time-to-change-from-stemi-nstemi-to-omi-nomi/

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    1. @ Salim & Leen — THANKS for your link to this review of the Aslanger article on the DIFOCCULT Trial. Dr. Smith was one of the authors of this study — and we linked to this article in our July 31, 2020 post ( http://hqmeded-ecg.blogspot.com/2020/07/omi-nomi-paradigm-established-as-better.html ). We appreciate the favorable review on REBELEM! — :)

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  5. Seems like there is sinus tachycardia and low QRS voltage in limb leads. This seems concerning for tamponade, and not typical for ACS unless complicated by cardiogenic shock. I'd probably do an urgent echo before taking him to the cath lab

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    1. Sounds very reasonable to do an echo. But low voltage is not specific enough to convince me away from what I believe (without perfect evidence yet) is highly specific for posterior OMI. I haven’t yet seen a case of tamponade that mimics OMI like this, but I’m sure we could find one. I think the tachycardia is More likely due to cardiogenic shock. But again, I can’t prove any of that because the pt died without definitive diagnosis. I totally understand I could be completely wrong. Thanks!

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  6. How about Coronary CTA first strategy?

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    1. Thank you for your comment. I’ll quote Dr. Meyers’ reply (above) to the same question by another reader = "Totally agree with the possible use of emergent CT coronary angiogram in this case, for when cardiology doesn’t recognize posterior OMI.” That said, choosing to do emergent CTA first — and then if positive, still having to cath to perform PCI adds in an extra step (and extra precious time) in a case such as today’s, in which there is localized maximal ST depression in leads V3,V4 of the initial ECG — which is an ECG that is diagnostic of acute posterior OMI. Optimal management would be to appreciate that not all patients with OMI present with chest pain (and as per my Figure-1, the most common non-chest-pain equivalent symptom of acute OMI is acute dyspnea) AND to recognize that an ECG such as the one seen in today’s case (as well as in the other 11 cases that Dr. Meyers links above) should tell you to assume acute posterior OMI until cath proves otherwise. I would think optimal use of Coronary CTA is for those cases in which you do NOT think there is acute OMI, but for which you want some additional support of that conclusion (rather than when the initial ECG is diagnostic of acute posterior OMI).

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  7. Thank you very much for presenting this tragic case. I fully agree with your conclusion.
    Just for discussion 1 would like to ask 2 questions.
    1. could the STD due to tachycardia itself if only looking at ecg 1
    2. Do you think that pulmonary embolism should be on our differential (tachycardia, STD, shortness of breath...) in any case i would request an immediate echo.
    Thank you
    Christian

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    1. GOOD Questions Christian! As we’ve discussed on many occasions — the finding of diffuse subendocardial ischemia on ECG can be the result of MANY things, including severe coronary disease OR tachycardia OR other conditions such as shock, anemia, “sick patient”, etc. Reasons why ECG #1 does NOT look like diffuse subendocardial ischemia are: i) The ST depression is clearly MAXIMAL in leads V3 and V4; ii) If anything, there is suggestion of ST elevation in leads aVL and V6 (with a flat ST in V5, next to the deep ST depression in V5); and iii) There is no more than minimal ST elevation in lead aVR (not nearly the amount I’d expect to reciprocate how much ST depression we see in V3,V4.

      As to the possibility of acute PE — I agree completely that the clinical scenario of new-onset dyspnea + tachycardia should make one consider the possibility of acute PE. Among the evaluations to consider — a stat Echo would be welcome. However — other than the tachycardia — this ECG is not suggestive of acute PE to me because: i) ST depression is LOCALIZED and maximal in V3 & V4 (instead of in V1,2,3 and/or II,III,aVF as would be expected with RV “strain”); ii) The Positive Mirror Test (See My Comment above) — which to mean suggests that the SHAPE of this maximal ST dep in V3,V4 looks more like acute posterior OMI than RV strain; and iii) The OTHER signs on ECG that I look for with acute RV “strain” are absent = No right axis — No RAA — No extra S waves in lat chest leads — No S1Q3T3.

      So, YES — the History is consistent with possible acute PE — but I would not be able to make the diagnosis of acute PE on the basis of this ECG. THANKS again for your comments & questions Christian!

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  8. Echo in ER would help to confirm MI by showing wall motion abnormality

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DEAR READER: I have loved receiving your comments, but I am no longer able to moderate them. Since the vast majority are SPAM, I need to moderate them all. Therefore, comments will rarely be published any more. So Sorry.