I was teaching about subtle coronary occlusion at EKG conference to our residents a couple days ago. About coronary occlusion that does not meet STEMI criteria and that many physicians would miss.
They were asking me about whether, if they missed one of these, would they have missed a STEMI?
I responded:
"No, you would not have missed a STEMI, and you would not be blamed for anything, but you would have missed an opportunity to save the patient's heart."
Just as I was explaining this, a text message came through from a former resident, with this ECG and the question: "Diagnostic ECG?"
I responded:
"Those are hyperacute T-waves."
The residents all chimed in: "Do not miss this opportunity!"
So I texted back: "Do not miss this opportunity to save the patient's heart. It is definitely diagnostic."
As it turns out, this was a prehospital ECG:
The medics transmitted this to the Emergency physician, asking whether cath lab activation was indicated or not.
The emergency physician diagnosed coronary occlusion (based on the STE in I and aVL, with reciprocal STD in lead III and the hyperacute T-waves in V3-V5).
A cardiologist somehow got involved. He disagreed and said not to activate, and "instead of listening to me," commenced to "educate me as to why the EKG is normal."
Comment on ECG:
The pair of leads III and aVL are diagnostic of occlusion.
The hyperacute T-waves in V3 and V4 are diagnostic of occlusion.
The combination is diagnostic of proximal LAD occlusion.
So I asked what the history was, and here it is:
A 60-something man, previously healthy, has sudden CP and diaphoresis. He presented to a clinic where the ECG (not available) was normal and there was a negative single troponin. He was discharged to home from the clinic.
He called 911 for recurrence of pain.
My response was:
"Given the history, you could almost activate the cath lab without an ECG!"
But instead, the emergency physician persisted, and recorded this ED ECG shortly afterwards:
At angiogram, the proximal LAD was occluded.
They were asking me about whether, if they missed one of these, would they have missed a STEMI?
I responded:
"No, you would not have missed a STEMI, and you would not be blamed for anything, but you would have missed an opportunity to save the patient's heart."
Just as I was explaining this, a text message came through from a former resident, with this ECG and the question: "Diagnostic ECG?"
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| What do you think? Notice the computer only sees the inverted P-waves. |
I responded:
"Those are hyperacute T-waves."
The residents all chimed in: "Do not miss this opportunity!"
So I texted back: "Do not miss this opportunity to save the patient's heart. It is definitely diagnostic."
As it turns out, this was a prehospital ECG:
The medics transmitted this to the Emergency physician, asking whether cath lab activation was indicated or not.
The emergency physician diagnosed coronary occlusion (based on the STE in I and aVL, with reciprocal STD in lead III and the hyperacute T-waves in V3-V5).
A cardiologist somehow got involved. He disagreed and said not to activate, and "instead of listening to me," commenced to "educate me as to why the EKG is normal."
Comment on ECG:
The pair of leads III and aVL are diagnostic of occlusion.
The hyperacute T-waves in V3 and V4 are diagnostic of occlusion.
The combination is diagnostic of proximal LAD occlusion.
So I asked what the history was, and here it is:
A 60-something man, previously healthy, has sudden CP and diaphoresis. He presented to a clinic where the ECG (not available) was normal and there was a negative single troponin. He was discharged to home from the clinic.
He called 911 for recurrence of pain.
My response was:
"Given the history, you could almost activate the cath lab without an ECG!"
But instead, the emergency physician persisted, and recorded this ED ECG shortly afterwards:
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At angiogram, the proximal LAD was occluded.
This one was an easy one after listening to Steve lectures on the blog
ReplyDeleteDear Dr. Smith, I only wanted to say thanks. Your blog and your books are my inspiration. I am a resident in internal medicine and cardiology in Germany and I have diagnosed subtle STEMIs in many patients in Germany and Switzerland and I teach my medical students and other colleagues to do not dismiss subtle STEMIs. I had a patient with an acute occlusion of the LCX and with subtle ECG changes (slightly ST depression on V2-V3) and normal troponin. My consultant (cardiologist) did not wanted to perform PCI but I insisted because she become bradycardia with junctional rhythm. The patient had a acute occlusion of the LCX on PCI. Thank you Dr. Smith, your blog is my inspiration and guide.
ReplyDeleteStephani,
DeleteThanks for the feedback. I'm so glad you've learned from the blog and it has helped you care for patients.
Viel Gluck in der Zukunft!
Steve Smith
Thanks for the case! I have one question: when I first saw the ECG #1 I noticed a subtle STD in V3-V4 followed by a tall T wave. Would it be wrong to call this de Winter's T waves?
ReplyDeleteSebastian,
DeleteThey are indeed de Winter's T-waves because of the very subtle ST depression. But de Winter's are a type of hyperacute T-wave, and there is a spectrum of hyperacute T-waves from deep ST depression (depressed ST takeoff) to ST elevation before the hyperacute T-wave. They all mean the same thing: extremely tight LAD with very low flow to complete occlusion.
Steve Smith
Dr. Smith, the Twaves in V3&V4 look very narrow and peaked, like hyperK. How do you know these are hyperacute? Is it bc of the terminal QRS distortion?
ReplyDeleteHyperK T-waves have more narrow base, preceded by a more flat ST segment that then abruptly turns upward, then ends in a very sharp T-wave peak, as if held up by a string. These do not have a flat ST segment and do not have a sharp peak. If you're not sure, just check a potassium!
DeleteSteve Smith
very nice, steve.
ReplyDeleteit is sad that sometimes our colleagues attempt to belittle us; some of my biggest errors have been when i deferred to the "specialists" or consultants, assuming that they were automatically correct given their title. that is why we need to "own the ekg", and its correct interpretation.
Tom,
DeleteExactly!
Steve
DE WINTER T WAVE
DeleteSort of, barely, almost. Hybrid with simple hyperacute T-wave. It all means the same thing.
ReplyDeleteDear Dr Smith, thank you very much again for another excellent case. Your lectures have greatly improved my ECG reading skills. Obviously, we must be very vigilant in angina patients whose ECGs display disproportionately large T waves, regardless of the ST status.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback!
DeleteHi Dr. Smith! Thanks so much for posting another excellent case :-) Thanks so much for continuing to teach us EKGs! I'm a few years out of residency now and I'm always learning from your EKG blog :-)
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the feedback!
DeleteDoes V-3 qualify to a TQRSD ??
ReplyDelete@ AKS — Hi! Always best when there is more than 1 tracing to specify WHICH ECG you are talking about. That said — neither tracing qualifies as T-QRS-D (terminal QRS distortion) — since both tracings show an S wave. Note in the 1st tracing that the QRS complex goes all the way down to the baseline. That said — OTHER findings on these tracings are diagnostic — :)
DeleteSorry, I was referring to 1st ecg. I thought the 1st complex of V3 doesn't have S wave but now realize that the other complex has.
ReplyDelete@ AKS — I think both complexes in lead V3 of the 1st ECG DO show S waves. That said — I will add a few relevant points: i) The T waves in lead V3 especially are so obviously abnormal (hyperacute) — with many other changes on this tracing that are clearly abnormal, that the question of T-QRS-D is no longer important (other than to practice recognizing this useful ecg phenomenon); and ii) No sign is perfect. I have seen cases in which one but not all complexes in lead V2 or V3 meet criteria for T-QRS-D — in which case judgment is needed to assess whether in the context of THAT particular case, the finding is likely to be significant (ie, pos for T-QRS-D) — or for example, whether there probably is artifact that alters QRST morphology. Hope that helps to clear things up! — :)
Delete