Two cases of ST Elevation with Terminal T-wave Inversion - do either, neither, or both need reperfusion?

Written by Pendell Meyers with edits by Steve Smith

I was sent these 2 ECGs with no clinical information other than chest pain:

Do either or both of these ECGs show ischemic changes? If so, what should you do and why?

Let's take them one at a time.

What would your response be?

I responded: "Awesome classic benign T wave inversion! That's the patient's baseline normal variant. ... But if it were a good story with exertional syncope or something you'd have to treat it like it could be HOCM, etc. Tell me more."

There is sinus rhythm with very large voltage and associated repolarization abnormalities. In V3-V6 there are classic and dramatic findings of BTWI including small or no S-waves, large R-waves, pronounced J-waves, ST-elevation, and steep dramatic T-wave inversions, all with a short QT interval.

Later, I was told this history:

The patient was a 17 year old African American male with history of asthma who presented with chest tightness and shortness of breath for 6 hours. He improved almost completely after a duoneb (albuterol and ipratropium). However the clinicians were surprised by his unusual ECG findings. 

He had no prior ECG on file. He had no family history of cardiac issues or sudden death. Labs were normal, including troponin x2. He is able to play basketball routinely without any issues.

In the ED he had a CT angio which was negative for aortic dissection. He was admitted for observation and cardiology consult. He had a normal CT coronary angiogram, as well as a normal cardiac echo. Serial troponins were negative.

Smith Comment: Although this ECG pattern is not ischemic, it may sometimes be seen in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. For this reason it may be prudent to obtain an echocardiogram in these patients before they are allowed to engage in vigorous athletic activity. [1,2]

Let's return to the other case:

There is sinus rhythm with QS-waves in V1-V3. There is ST elevation in V1-V3 as well, with convex appearance and some terminal T-wave inversion. 

I advised the team that the patient has had a large anterior MI, but I cannot tell how long ago it occurred. It could be 6-12 hours after completion or reperfusion of anterior MI, or it could be days to years after the event. I advised them that I do not see any signs of reocclusion on this ECG, meaning that I do not think this ECG at this time represents acute LAD occlusion that would benefit from emergent reperfusion.

Let's use the LV aneurysm rule on this ECG to see if it supports our theory:

Here is the rule, which should be used if there is suspicion of aneurysm (there are Q-waves in V1-V4, especially QS waves): "If there is one lead of V1-V4 with a T/QRS ratio greater than 0.36, then it is acute MI. If less than 0.36, it is either subacute (over 6 hours) or old." [3,4]

V1 = 2/10 = 0.20

V2 = 2/12 = 0.17

V3 = 1.5/7 = 0.21

So it agrees with our visual subjective interpretation that this is either subacute or old.

I later found out that the patient had history of an LAD occlusion MI two months ago, with a stent placed.

He was taken for emergent cath due to his history and the ECG findings including ST elevation (although ST elevation is a terrible way to distinguish ischemia from non-ischemia). 

His cath showed perfectly patent stents.

Three serial troponins were undetectable.

His serial ECGs did not change.

He was discharged home.

Learning Points:

There are many causes of ST elevation, terminal T-wave inversions, and both simultaneously. Experience with the cases on this blog can teach you how to differentiate them.

Wellens syndrome (or reperfusion in general) is an important cause of terminal T-wave inversions. See these cases below for examples. However, Wellens' syndrome includes resolution of chest pain and preservation of R-waves, in addition to T-wave inversion. Thus, this second case would not be an example of Wellens' syndrome.

Classic Evolution of Wellens' T-waves over 26 hours

2 Cases of Resolved Chest Pain with Dynamic Terminal T-wave Inversion

Subtle Dynamic T-waves, Followed by LAD Occlusion and Arrest

Pseudonormalization of Wellens' Waves

More cases

Also see below for more cases of LV aneurysm morphology:

Tachycardia and ST Elevation.

Subtle Anterior STEMI Superimposed on Anterior LV Aneurysm Morphology

Is this acute STEMI? LV Aneurysm? Would you give Thrombolytics?

ST elevation and QS-waves. ECG is equivocal. Use ED Echo!!

References:

T/QRS ratio to differentiate anterior STEMI from anterior LV aneurysm:

1. Papadakis M, Carre F, Kervio G, et al. The prevalence, distribution, and clinical outcomes of electrocardiographic repolarization patterns in male athletes of African/Afro-Caribbean origin. Eur Heart J. 2011;32(18):2304-2313. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehr140

2. Wells S, Rowin EJ, Bhatt V, Maron MS, Maron BJ. Association Between Race and Clinical Profile of Patients Referred for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Circulation. 2018;137(18):1973-1975.

3. Validation (Klein, Shroff, Smith): Electrocardiographic criteria to differentiate acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction from left ventricular aneurysm

4. Derivation (Smith): T/QRS ratio best distinguishes ventricular aneurysm from anterior myocardial infarction

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Comment by KEN GRAUER, MD (12/5/2018):

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It’s always great practice to be given tracings and “Put to the Test” as to whether you think acute changes are, or are not present. I came to the identical conclusion as did Drs. Smith & Meyers about the 2 ECGs in this case — albeit via a slightly different intuitive pathway. For clarity — I repeat the tracings in Figure-1.

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Figure-1: Two ECGs we are asked to assess, but without benefit of any history (See text).

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ECG #1:

• Knowing some History is KEY. As per Dr. Meyers — If the history of this patient was worrisome, then the onus of “proof” still rests upon us to prove there are no acute ECG changes, rather than the other way around. REMEMBER — Patients with early repolarization on their baseline ECG may develop superimposed changes of acute STEMI, that can at times be difficult to discern because of pronounced baseline benign ST-T wave repolarization changes.
• That said, in addition to the benign-appearing findings described in detail by Drs. Meyers & Smith — I thought these findings in ECG #1 were probably not acute because: i) The Q waves in the inferolateral leads are very small (these look like normal septal q waves in a patient like this with an inferior frontal plane axis); ii) There is no reciprocal ST depression; iii) Except for lead V3 — the leads with the deepest T inversion manifest the tallest R waves; and, iv) Lead V3 is perfectly consistent with being a “transition lead” (ie, V3 looks precisely as I’d expect for a lead located in between the upright T wave and predominantly negative QRS seen in V2 — and — the huge R wave with deep T inversion in V4).
• The ECG appearance of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is highly variable. Among potential ECG findings in such patients are LBBB, RBBB, IVCD, large Q waves in multiple leads (especially in lateral and/or inferior leads); prominent septal forces (ie, relatively tall R waves in anterior leads) — and/or marked increase in QRS amplitude in various leads with notable ST-T wave abnormalities (as are seen here in ECG #1). And sometimes, the ECG of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is surprisingly unremarkable. TAKE-HOME Point: The prominent QRS voltage and marked ST-T wave abnormalities in ECG #1 should clearly prompt consideration of possible HCM. An Echo is indicated if there is any concern.

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ECG #2:

• Knowing some History is KEY. As per Dr. Meyers — the correct clinical interpretation of ECG #2 is, “Anterior MI of uncertain age, possibly recent” — with need for clinical correlation.
• Reasons we KNOW there has been prior anterior MI in ECG #2 include the following — i) There is a fragmented initial Q wave deflection in lead V3 (and when you see this initial fragmented qrS deflection — it is highly suggestive of true prior infarction); ii) There is loss of r wave (a tiny r looks to be present in V1 — but it is wiped out by the q wave in V3); iii) The q wave in V4 shouldn’t be there (because this q in V4 is larger than the tiny q in V5 — and it looks like there is no q in V6); and, iv) ST coving and T inversion is most prominent in the anterior leads that manifest abnormal initial (q wave) deflections.
• Reasons for suspecting that even if ECG changes in ECG #2 were to be recent — they probably do not reflect acute coronary occlusion, include the following — i) It usually takes a little time to develop the fragmentation and the amount of lost anterior forces as is seen in leads V1, V2 and V3 of ECG #2; and, ii) The amount of ST elevation in the anterior leads is modest compared to significant loss of anterior forces and the extent of T wave inversion. NOTE: Exceptions always exist, and it is possible to develop the ECG picture seen in ECG #2 over a fairly short period of time … — BUT — “the look” of this tracing is such that I thought the changes in ECG #2 were probably not acute.