A man in his 30s with chest pain

Written by Pendell Meyers, case submitted by Tom Fiero

A man in his 30s walked into the ED complaining of chest pain. His triage ECG was done at 11:30 (no prior was available):

What do you think?

Sinus tachycardia
Normal QRS complex pattern, with borderline low voltage
Very slight STE in leads V2-V5
Proportionally large and fat T-waves in V4-5 with straightening of the ST segments
T-waves also concerning in II, III, aVF, with inappropriately negative T-waves in aVL


Using the LAD OMI vs. BER formula:

3 Variable: 27.34 (positive for OMI, using STE60V3=1.5mm, QTc=444, RWV4=2.0mm)

4 Variable: 23.01 (positive for OMI, using QRS amplitude V2=7.5mm) (> 18.2 is most accurate cutoff; > 19.0 is 97% specific)


This ECG was sent to Pendell, Smith, and Grauer. All immediately diagnosed LAD occlusion.

This ECG pattern as a whole is extremely specific for full thickness, complete ischemia of the anterior, lateral, and inferior/apical walls. There are several etiologies of this (including takotsubo cardiomyopathy, coronary spasm, etc), however the overwhelmingly most likely, most important, and most treatable etiology is acute Occlusion MI (OMI), in this case likely a wraparound LAD that supplies the anterior wall and wraps around to the apex (showing up in the inferior leads). The only way to differentiate OMI from other, less treatable causes is emergent angiogram.


This ECG was interpreted as "no STEMI" and the clinician initiated a typical workup for undifferentiated chest pain.

Approximately an hour or two later, the initial troponin I returned positive at 0.8 ng/mL.

A second ECG was ordered after this troponin resulted:

Obvious OMI, meeting STEMI criteria, and showing progression down the OMI ECG progression with significant Q-waves in the anterior leads. Of course, many LAD occlusions can have Q-waves in the first hour of onset of symptoms, and there is still much myocardium left to save in this ECG.

A third ECG was recorded before transport:

Similar to prior, ongoing OMI.

The patient was given ASA, heparin bolus, and thrombolytics. He was transferred to the regional PCI center, and the exact cath outcome was very difficult to obtain, however the findings included triple vessel disease with complicated LAD and LCX lesions that required urgent CABG and balloon pump for cardiogenic shock. The ultimate outcome is not obtainable.


Learning Points:

Never exclude OMI based on age. Young people can have OMI.

You should learn to recognize this pattern of wraparound LAD occlusion, including the subtle but diagnostic hyperacute T-waves in V4 from the original ECG.

This young patient likely would have had a much better outcome if his need for emergent reperfusion had been recognized 1-2 hours earlier.


See these other cases of young people with OMI:

24 yo woman with chest pain: Is this STEMI? Pericarditis? Beware a negative Bedside ultrasound.

A 20-something woman with Chest Pain

Chest Pain in a Male in his 20's; Inferior ST elevation: Inferior lead "early repol" diagnosed. Is it?

See these other similar cases:

The computer and the cardiologist called this a "Normal EKG"

See what happens when hyperacute T-waves are missed

Is this ACS? Look at the previous ECG!!

Hyperacute T-waves, with a Twist

Would you activate the cath lab prehospital?

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MY Comment by KEN GRAUER, MD (3/29/2020):

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Sometimes the diagnosis of acute OMI (Occlusion-based MI) will be obvious from the initial ECG. However, much of the time — it won’t be. Achieving 100% certainty that a patient who presents to the ED with new chest pain has acute OMI, and therefore merits prompt cath is simply not a realistic goal in many cases.

• That said — we do not need to be 100% certain. All that should be needed to justify prompt cath for a patient with new chest pain is seeing enough on ECG to consider acute OMI until proven otherwise.

I focus my My Comment in this case on the initial ECG. For clarity — I’ll again show this initial tracing in Figure-1.

• Please take ANOTHER LOOK at this initial ECG ( = ECG #1). Then consider the questions below Figure-1.

Figure-1: The initial 12-lead ECG in this case (See text).

QUESTIONS: Given that the patient in this case presented to the ED for new-onset chest pain:

• WHICH ONE of the 12 leads in ECG #1 most concerns you?
• Once you’ve identified the lead with the most worrisome ST-T wave appearance — Are the “neighboring leads” to this most worrisome lead also abnormal?
• Looking at the entire tracing in Figure-1 — HOW MANY of the 12 leads show an abnormal ST-T wave appearance?
• In this patient with new chest pain — Is the sum total of these abnormal leads enough to merit (if not mandate) prompt cardiac catheterization? (ie, After looking at this ECG — Is your diagnosis acute OMI until proven otherwise?).
• EXTRA CREDIT: Which 2 leads in ECG #1 are most likely the result of faulty lead placement? How might this technical mishap affect your decision about whether or not prompt cardiac cath is indicated?

My THOUGHTS: As always — I favor beginning interpretation of ECG #1 with a Systematic Approach:

• The rhythm is sinus tachycardia at a rate just over 100/minute. The PR interval and QRS duration are normal. I suspect the QTc interval is no more than upper normal, though the QTc becomes more difficult to assess with tachycardia, as is seen here. The frontal plane axis is normal (about +20 degrees). There is no chamber enlargement.

Regarding Q-R-S-T Changes:

• There appears to be a large Q wave in lead III — at least, in 3 of the 4 QRS complexes in this lead. Looking closer — there is some beat-to-beat variation in QRS morphology in lead III, with possibly a tiny initial r wave in the 1st complex — and possibly a small terminal r wave in the 2nd and 4th complexes in this lead. Small and narrow q waves appear to be present in at least some beats in multiple leads. That said — I suspect the presence of any Q waves we see on this tracing is not clinically significant.
• R Wave Progression is somewhat delayed (ie, Transition, where the R wave becomes taller than the S wave is deep does not occur until between leads V4-to-V5). NOTE: Recognition that R wave amplitude remains modest as far over as lead V4 in ECG #1 is a relevant finding when contemplating the possibility of acute LAD occlusion (and if anything — R wave amplitude decreases from lead V3-to-lead-V4 in this tracing).
• ST-T Wave Changes in ECG #1 are clearly of concern! — which I address and illustrate in Figure-2 below:

Figure-2: I’ve labeled ECG #1 to illustrate KEY findings (See text).

Regarding answers to the QUESTIONS raised above:

• Of the 12 leads in ECG #1 — it is lead V4 that concerns me most. Looking closely — the J-point in lead V4 (BLUE arrow in this lead) is elevated by 2 mm above the PR segment baseline (dotted RED line). As per Dr. Meyers — the ST segment in this lead V4 is straightened (similar to the angled BLUE line in this lead).
• PEARL #1: When assessing less-than-obvious ST-T wave changes in a patient with new-onset symptoms — I have found it helpful to identify at least 1 or 2 leads on the initial 12-lead tracing that are unmistakably abnormal. In this patient with new chest pain — there is NO way the ST-T wave appearance in lead V4 of this tracing should be interpreted as anything but hyperacute until proven otherwise by prompt cardiac catheterization.
• PEARL #2: Support that a clearly abnormal ST-T wave (as we see in lead V4) is indicative of an acute coronary syndrome in progress — can usually be obtained from assessment of “neighboring” leads. We see this in Figure-2 — in which there is ~1 mm of J-point ST elevation with ST segment straightening in both of the leads neighboring lead V4 (angled PURPLE lines in leads V3 and V5).
• PEARL #3: It is almost certain that leads V1 and V2 in ECG #1 have been placed 1 or 2 interspaces too high on the chest because: i) there is an rSr’ appearance in both of these leads; ii) there is a significant negative component to the P wave in both of these leads in this young adult with no apparent reason to have left atrial enlargement; and, iii) the appearance of the QRS complex and the ST-T wave in leads V1 and V2 looks very much like the QRS complex and ST-T wave in lead aVR. (For more on ECG recognition of lead V1,V2 misplacement — Please see My Comment in the November 4, 2018 post).
• KEY: Prompt recognition of lead V1,V2 misplacement is relevant when contemplating possible acute anterior OMI. In this particular case — I would not have needed to immediately repeat ECG #1 — because regardless of what the true ST-T wave appearance in leads V1 and V2 is, definitive ECG findings are already present (as described above) in leads V3, V4 and V5. BUT — 2 more ECGs were obtained on the patient in this case prior to transport — and given persistence of the QRST appearance in leads V1 and V2, it’s obvious that this lead placement error went unrecognized. And, there are times when the ECG diagnosis of acute anterior OMI may depend on availability of an ECG which uses correct placement of leads V1 and V2.
• Finally, as per Dr. Meyers — ST-T wave appearance in the inferior leads, and in lead aVL is clearly abnormal. Although the modest QRS complex amplitude in these leads makes assessment of ST-T wave changes challenging — the T waves in leads III and aVF are hyperacute. Both of these T waves are fatter-at-their-peak and broader-at-their-base than expected — with a T wave that is disproportionately tall (ie, T wave amplitude in lead aVF is almost as tall as the R wave in this lead). Given lack of any appreciable R wave in lead III — the T wave in III is also inappropriately tall. While T wave changes in lead II are more subtle — in the context of clear abnormalities in leads III and aVF, I thought the T wave in lead II was also more prominent than expected. Confirmation that these ST-T wave changes in the inferior leads are real — is forthcoming from the near mirror-image opposite ST-T wave picture that lead aVL manifests compared to the ST-T wave in lead III (ie, there are reciprocal ST-T changes in lead aVL).

BOTTOM LINE Regarding ECG #1: In this patient with new chest pain — acute ST-T wave changes are clearly present in leads II, III, aVF and aVL — and, in leads V3, V4 and V5. I suspect leads V1 and V2 would also show abnormal ST-T waves, if an ECG was repeated with correct lead placement of the V1,V2 electrodes.

• The finding of abnormal ST-T wave changes in at least 7 (if not 9) out of 12 leads on the initial ECG, in this patient with new chest pain — should more than merit justification for prompt cardiac catheterization.
• P.S.: The 2nd ECG in this case was obtained 1 or 2 hours later (after ECG #1). Realizing that “Hindsight is 100% in the Retrospectoscope” — IF there was any doubt after seeing ECG #1 about whether the above noted ECG findings in this patient with new chest pain were acute — then the 2nd ECG in this case should have been obtained much sooner than “1 or 2 hours later”.

Our THANKS to Drs. Fiero and Meyers for sharing this case! There is much to learn from it.

A patient with abdominal pain associated with alcohol withdrawal and alcoholic ketoacidosis

While at work, one my partners showed me this ECG of a 50-something woman with abdominal pain associated with alcohol withdrawal and alcoholic ketoacidosis.  There was no reported chest pain or SOB.

What do you think?

I said it "looks like takotsubo.  Electrolytes might contribute.  Are they back yet? (they were not).  I do not think this is a coronary event."

He asked why.

I responded: "bizarre T-waves, with T-wave inversion and extremely long QT.  The computer measures the QT at 506 ms, but it really is more like 560-580 ms, with a QTc of 600-620 ms.  This is not at all typical of ACS but very typical of takotsubo or stress cardiomyopathy."

So he did a bedside echo:

Here is the apical 4-chamber

You can clear see that only the base contracts, that the apex is bulging like an octopus trap

Here is a parasternal short axis view. 
The anterior wall is closest to the probe, and the lateral wall is on the right.

Decreased systolic function and anterior and lateral wall motion abnormality

A previous formal echo from 1 year prior had an EF of 68% and no wall motion abnormality.

The "apical ballooning" supports takotsubo.  However, the presence of a wall motion abnormality which corresponds to one coronary distribution (proximal LAD affecting anterior and lateral walls) is not typical, and puts a coronary etiology a bit higher on the differential diagnosis.

If it is coronary, then the artery is open (T-waves are inverted) and cath lab activation not necessary.

K returned at 3.2 mEq/L, Mg at 1.4 mg/dL (normal 1.6-2.6), Lactate at 7.7 mmoles/L and Troponin I at 0.219 ng/mL (URL = 0.030 ng/mL)

Another ECG was recorded 45 minutes later:

Slightly deeper T-wave inversion

Here is the overnight troponin profile:

This does not differentiate a Non Occlusion MI from Takotsubo

A formal echo was done in the morning:

The estimated left ventricular ejection fraction is 25%.

Decreased left ventricular systolic performance severe .

Regional wall motion abnormality-distal septum anterior and apex, anterolateral, lateral.

Stress induced cardiomyopathy (takotsubo-like LV dysfunction) probable.

Definite findings for very large regional wall motion abnormality, with segmental LV involvement c/w takotsubo type stress cardiomyopathy.  HOWEVER, obstructive CAD is not excluded as a contributing cause to the mechanism of regional LV dysfunction.

And a followup ECG:

Again, bizarre T-waves with very long QT
The computer measures the QT as 498 ms, QTc 534.
I measure it as at least 600 ms, possibly longer, with QTc of 635 ms

How can we differentiate ACS from takotsubo?

There are 2 general types of ECG presentation in takotsubo:

1. ST Elevation, often diffuse and not in one coronary distribution.

With this presentation, it is often necessary to obtain emergent angiography because what you think is takotsubo is often really STEMI/OMI.  Patients with occlusion of a wraparound (Type III) LAD that wraps around the apex such that it also supplies the inferior wall have diffuse ST Elevation and also have apical ballooning, such that you might think it is takotsubo.

See this case: 

Diffuse ST Elevation with Apical Ballooning: is it Takotsubo Stress Cardiomyopathy?

Examples of takotsubo with ST Elevation: 

Chest pain, sinus tachycardia, and ST Elevation

COPD exacerbation, what do the ECG and bedside echo show?

Two more Cases of Takotsubo Stress Cardiomyopathy

2. Bizarre T-wave inversions, in which case it could be ACS but does not need emergent angiogram to prove it.

See these cases of takotsubo with T-wave inversion:

Bizarre T-wave inversions, with Negative U-waves and Very long QT. And a myocardial viability study.

A 60 year old patient with large T-wave inversions

Bizarre T-wave Inversions in a Patient without Chest Pain

Outcome:

The cardiologists were sufficiently convinced of takotsubo that they did not do an angiogram.
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Can one reliably differentiate the ST Elevation of Takotsubo from the ST Elevation of LAD occlusion?

The quote below is from a paper we wrote in Can J Cardiol a couple years ago:

David F. Miranda, M.D, Angie Lobo, M.D, Brooks Walsh, M.D, Yader Sandoval, M.D,

Stephen W. Smith, M.D.  
New Insights into the Use of the 12-lead Electrocardiogram for Diagnosing Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Emergency Department.   
Canadian Journal of Cardiology 34(2):132; February 2018.  Issue: Advances and Controversies in Cardiac Emergency Care. 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0828282X1731173X  

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Takotsubo may manifest T-wave inversion, but also STE that mimics STEMI.  Although earlier work had suggested that ECG criteria might distinguish this STE from anterior STEMI,(57) recent literature does not support this result.(58 59) Although the specificity of various combinations of ECG elements for Takotsubo may be greater than 95%, the positive predictive value may be as low as 67% due to the low prevalence of Takotsubo.  Many anterior STEMI, especially due to wraparound LAD to the inferior wall, have similar ECG findings and also apical ballooning.(60)   Therefore, coronary angiography is often essential to rule out acute coronary occlusion, even when the STE pattern and cardiac ultrasound both suggest Takotsubo.

57. Kosuge M, Ebina T, Hibi K, et al. Simple and accurate electrocardiographic criteria to  differentiate takotsubo cardiomyopathy from anterior acute myocardial infarction. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2010;55:2514-6.

58. Frangieh AH, Obeid S, Ghadri JR, et al. ECG Criteria to Differentiate Between Takotsubo (Stress) Cardiomyopathy and Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American Heart Association 2016;5.

59. Vervaat FE, Christensen TE, Smeijers L, et al. Is it possible to differentiate between Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and acute anterior STEMI? J Electrocardiol 2015;48:512-9.

60. Mugnai G, Pasqualin G, Benfari G, et al. Acute electrocardiographic differences between Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction. J Electrocardiol 2015;48:79-85.

Annotated Bibliography (relevant quotes from abstracts)

STEMI vs. Takotsubo:

57. Kosuge et al.:
"The absence of abnormal Q waves, absence of reciprocal changes, presence of ST-segment elevation in lead −aVR (i.e., ST-segment depression in lead aVR), and absence of ST-segment elevation in lead V1identified TC with sensitivities of 42%, 94%, 97%, and 94%, specificities of 74%, 49%, 75%, and 71%, and predictive accuracies of 71%, 53%, 77%, and 73%, respectively." 

58. Frangieh et al.:
"When comparing STEMI and STE-TTC, ST-elevation in –aVR (ST depression in aVR) was characteristic of STE-TTC with a sensitivity/ specificity of 43% and 95%, positive predictive value (PPV) 91%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) 62%. 0 .001= ST depression in aVR is accompanied by ST-elevation in inferior leads, sensitivity/specificity were 14% and 98% (PPV was 89% and NPV 52%) (P=0.001), and 12% and 100% when associated with ST-elevation in anteroseptal leads (PPV 100%, NPV 52%) (P less than 0 .001) On the other hand, STEMI was characterized by ST-elevation in aVR (sensitivity/specificity of 31% and 95% P less than 0 .001.

59. Vervaat et al. assessed these previous criteria:
"The existing ECG criterion was less accurate (76%) than in the original study (95%), with a large difference in sensitivity (26% vs. 91%). Only a frontal plane ST-vector of 60° could significantly distinguish TC from all acute anterior STEMI subgroups (p < 0.01) with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 81%. The mean amplitude in inferior leads II and aVF was significantly higher for patients with TC compared to all patients with acute anterior STEMI (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively) and the mean amplitude in the precordial leads V1 and V2 was significantly lower compared to proximal and mid LAD occlusion (p < 0.01)."

60. Mugnai et al.
"The absence of abnormal Q waves, the ST depression in aVR and the lack of ST elevation in V1 were significantly associated with TC (respectively: 52% vs 18%, p = 0.01; 47% vs 11%, p = 0.01; 80% vs 41%, p = 0.01). The combination of these ECG findings identified TC with a specificity of 95% and a positive predictive value of 85.7%."

ACS with T-wave inversion vs. takotsubo

Kosuge et al.  (Differences in Negative T Waves Between Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Reperfused Anterior Acute Myocardial Infarction)  compared the negative T-waves of Takotsubo to those of anterior MI and found that "negative T waves in lead -aVR (ie, positive T waves in lead aVR) and absence of negative T waves in lead V1 identified takotsubo with 94% sensitivity and 95% specificity."  In other words, takotsubo in this study had positive T-waves in both aVR and V1.

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MY Comment by KEN GRAUER, MD (3/25/2020):

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Interesting case that serves to review an important concept in Emergency Care ECG interpretation.

• For clarity — I show the initial ECG in this case in Figure-1.
• ECG #1 was obtained from a 50-something woman with abdominal pain associated with alcohol withdrawal and alcoholic ketoacidosis. No chest pain or dyspnea.

Figure-1: The initial ECG in this case (See text).

Dr. Smith has concisely summarized the KEY points ECG #1:

• “Bizarre T waves, with T wave inversion and extremely long QT. The computer measures the QT at 506 msec — but it really is more like 560-580 msec, with a QTc of 600-620 msec."
• Dr. Smith continued, “This is not at all typical of ACS — but it is very typical of Takotsubo or Stress Cardiomyopathy."
• Bedside Echo then confirmed this diagnosis (Echo shown above by Dr. Smith).

MY THOUGHTS: I agree completely with the above interpretation of ECG #1 by Dr. Smith. For clarity — I think it worthwhile spending a moment to note the specific findings in ECG #1:

• The rhythm is most probably sinus, with a heart rate of ~80/minute (albeit P wave amplitude is reduced, with an unusual P wave shape that could be from another site in the atria). Regarding intervals — the PR interval is probably normal (albeit it measures barely 0.12 second in lead II). The QRS complex is narrow (ie, not more than 0.10 second). As per Dr. Smith — the QT interval is markedly prolonged! I measure the QT to be ~560 msec in lead V3 — which given the heart rate ~80/minute, corresponds to a QTc ~620 msec.
• The mean frontal plane QRS axis is somewhat vertical, at about +80 degrees.
• Voltage criteria for LVH are met in several leads. These include: i) Deepest S wave in V1,V2 + tallest R wave in V5,V6 ≥35 mm; ii) R wave ≥18 mm in lead V6; and, iii) R wave ≥20 mm in any inferior lead (Please see Extra Figure-A below for the user-friendly ECG criteria I favor for diagnosis of LVH).
• Deep Q waves are seen in multiple leads (ie, leads II, III, aVF; V4, V5, V6 — with a smaller Q wave in lead I).
• ST segment coving with slight elevation — that leads into deep, symmetric T wave inversion, is seen in high lateral leads I and aVL — and in the anterior leads (especially in leads V2 and V3).

IMPRESSION of ECG #1: As per Dr. Smith — the etiology of ECG findings in this tracing may be multifactorial:

• Hypokalemia and/or hypomagnesemia are common causes of QT (QU) prolongation — and both of these electrolyte levels came back low (serum K+ = 3.2 mEq/L; serum Mg++ = 1.4 mg/dL in this patient who was acidotic). That said, the fact that the QTc remained extremely prolonged on the follow-up ECG (by which time serum electrolyte status and the patient’s acidosis should certainly have improved) — tells us that these metabolic abnormalities probably contributed little to this initial ECG picture.
• The ample QRS voltage in this patient with a long history of alcohol abuse increase the likelihood that she had a baseline alcoholic cardiomyopathy — and that disorder could clearly contribute to some of the ST-T wave abnormalities seen in ECG #1 (Unfortunately, no baseline ECG was available for comparison). That said — the markedly prolonged QTC, with ST coving and deep T wave inversion in anterolateral leads is not what we’d expect from alcoholic cardiomyopathy alone.
• Instead (as per Dr. Smith) — the clinical history of this acutely ill patient with the initial tracing shown in Figure-1 is most suggestive of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

CONFESSION: I find it easy to forget about Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy. I’ve noticed that other even experienced providers also have a tendency to overlook this disorder. In the hope of serving as a helpful reminder — I’ve summarized in Figure-2 the ECG Findings that might be expected in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (adapted from Namgung in Clin Med Insights Cardiol). The initial ECG in this case ( = ECG #1) shows many of these features:

• Although there is slight ST elevation in a number of leads in ECG #1 — there are much most striking findings in this tracing. These include: i) ST segment coving with deep, symmetric T wave inversion in leads I, aVL — and in leads V1, V2, V3; ii) Marked QTc prolongation is present (ie, a QTc ~620 msec); and, iii) Deep Q waves are seen in multiple leads (which could be longstanding given increased QRS amplitude in these same inferolateral leads — but about which we can’t be sure without availability of a prior ECG).

Figure-2: ECG Findings in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy — adapted from Namgung in Clin Med Insights Cardiol (See text).

Finally, for the purpose of brief review — I’ve added in Figure-3 a few pages that summarize Clinical Features of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy. Note:

• The patient in this case was not an elderly woman — but the combination of acute illness with abdominal pain, alcoholic ketoacidosis, and alcohol withdrawal is clearly a situation predisposing to severe ongoing catecholamine elevation.
• Troponins were elevated — albeit not nearly as much as one might expect from the extent of ECG abnormalities.
• Clinical follow-up on how this patient did (including cardiac cath results) were not available to me at the time I wrote my comments.
• BOTTOM LINE: We need to remember to consider Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in our differential diagnosis in cases like this. Our THANKS to Dr. Smith for this reminder!

Figure-3: Brief review of clinical features of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (Excerpted from Grauer K — ACLS-PB, 2013).

Figure-3 (Continued): Clinical features (Excerpted from Grauer K — ACLS-PB, 2013).

Extra Figure-A: The ECG criteria that I favor for diagnosing LVH (For more on “My Take” regarding the ECG diagnosis of LVH — CLICK HERE).

A 32 year old woman with chest pain has a prehospital ECG

A 32 year old woman with chest pain has a prehospital ECG:

What do you think?
Is it really "due to ventricular hypertrophy," as the computer says?

This was texted to me and my response was:

"Leads are reversed.  Correct them and I think you will find a STEMI (or OMI).  Either inferoposterior or posterolateral."

Analysis:
The QRS is negative in I, II, and aVL and positive in aVR, all of which makes for a bizarre axis.  Normally you can determine if it is truly lead placement by looking at P-waves, which should be upright in lead II.  Here it is difficult to see them.  But another way is to see if the QRS is negative in the lateral precordial leads.  Here the QRS is positive.

This could also be seen if a right sided ECG is recorded in someone with dextrocardia (this would be extremely unusual!)

There is ST Elevation in aVR and STD in I, II, and aVL.  Clearly there should be ST Elevation in lateral leads and ST depression in the right sided lead aVR.

I believe that the right and left arm leads are reversed, but in any case lead reversal is certain.

So they corrected the lead placement:

Here the leads are placed correctly:

Clearly a Posterolateral STEMI now.
The computer diagnosed it this time.

This lead placement problem was not diagnosed by the medics.  This resulted in a prolonged Door to Balloon Time.  The resident did see it.  The faculty did not, and learned a lot.

Angiogram:

Culprit was a 100% Occlusion of OM-1 (first obtuse marginal off the circumflex).

Learning Points

1.  Young Women do have Acute MI.  See here for more cases:
https://hqmeded-ecg.blogspot.com/search/label/Young%20Women

2. Beware Lead placement!  The computer will not always see it.  STEMI can be missed.  See Ken's detailed comments below.

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MY Comment by KEN GRAUER, MD (3/18/2020):

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Recognition of technical errors is an often ignored, yet extremely important aspect of optimal ECG interpretation. That such technical errors remain prominent in everyday practice is immediately evident from random sampling of a series of tracings in any of the many international ECG internet forums. As a result — we like to periodically publish clinical examples of lead misplacement. To review a number of these — GO TO:

• The February 11, 2020 post.
• The November 4, 2018 post.
• The July 29, 2018 post.

There are many similarities between Today’s Case — and the February 11, 2020 post on Dr. Smith’s ECG Blog. Both patients presented with acute chest pain — which adds to the challenge of recognizing superimposed lead misplacement.

• By far — the most common lead reversal is mix-up of the LA (Left Arm) and RA (Right Arm) electrodes. This is the mix-up that occurred in both the Feb. post and in today’s case. Figure-1 (which I’ve adapted from the superb LITFL web page on this subject) — reviews the essentials of LA-RA reversal.

Figure-1: LA-RA Lead Reversal — adapted from LITFL (See text).

With the essentials from Figure-1 of LA-RA lead reversal in mind — Let’s TAKE ANOTHER LOOK at the initial ECG in this case (Figure-2):

Figure-2: The initial ECG in the ED — with features of LA-RA lead reversal written below the tracing (See text).

CHALLENGE — TRY TO ENVISION what this initial ECG (in Figure-2) would have looked like IF the limb leads were correctly placed.

ANSWER: In the bottom tracing of Figure-3 ( = ECG #1B, outlined in RED) — I have made the following changes:

• Lead I from ECG #1A has been inverted in ECG #1B.
• Leads II and III have switched positions.
• Leads aVL and aVR have switched positions.
• Lead aVF and the chest leads were left unchanged.

NOTE: As per Dr. Smith — correction of LA-RA lead reversal reveals acute postero-lateral OMI. This diagnosis is based on the following ECG features that we see in ECG #1B:

• Sinus rhythm (there now is an upright P wave in lead II of ECG #1B).
• Hyperacute ST-T waves in high-lateral leads I and aVL (as determined by T waves in these leads that are much fatter-at-their-peak and wider-at-their-base than expected).
• Reciprocal ST depression in each of the inferior leads — which is most marked in lead III, in which the shape of the depressed ST-T wave is a mirror-image opposite picture of the hyperacute ST-T wave in lead aVL.
• Anterior lead changes suggestive of acute posterior OMI — in the form of unexpectedly tall R waves in leads V2, V3 and a characteristic shape to the ST segment depression seen in leads V2 and V3, consistent with a positive Mirror Test (See My Comment in the February 16, 2019 post for illustration of the Mirror Test).

Figure-3: Comparison of the initial ECG in the ED ( = ECG #1A) — with what this ECG would look like IF: i) Lead I was inverted; ii) Leads II and III switched places; and, iii) Leads aVR and aVL switched places (See text).

KEY POINTS: As per Dr. Smith — This case is remarkable for lead misplacement in the initial ECG, that occurs in association with acute OMI. I’ll add the following points that have helped me to rapidly recognize this most common technical error of LA-RA lead reversal:

• You should never normally see global negativity (of the P wave, QRS complex and T wave) in lead I. If ever you do — then the diagnosis is either: i) Limb lead reversal; or, ii) Dextrocardia. Dextrocardia is rare (lead reversal is far more common!). With dextrocardia — there is reverse R wave progression (with much more rapid loss of R wave amplitude than what we see in ECG #1A).
• Lead aVR — most often manifests a predominantly negative QRS complex (often, but not always accompanied by a negative P and T wave). But the combination of a predominantly negative QRS in lead I with an upright QRS and upright T wave in lead aVR is distinctly unusual. IF lead I looks like you expect aVR to look — and, aVR looks like you expect lead I to look — then suspect LA-RA lead reversal!
• The P wave should be upright in lead II when there is sinus rhythm. IF you do not see an upright P wave in lead II — then you either have: i) a non-sinus rhythm; ii) some type of lead reversal; or, iii) dextrocardia. Note that NO P wave is seen in lead II of ECG #1A (although P waves are seen in leads I, III, aVL and aVF of this tracing). Then note that in ECG #1B — that an upright P wave now is seen in lead II, as expected with normal sinus rhythm.
• Finally — Please remember the easy-to-find superb web page on LITFL — that describes key findings in the 7 most common lead reversals: Simply put in, “LITFL Lead Reversal” into the Search bar — and this web page link will instantly come up!