The electrocardiogram in the ACS patient: high-risk electrocardiographic presentations lacking anatomically oriented ST-segment elevation

Sharing and Teaching Electrocardiograms to Minimize Infarction (STEMI): reducing diagnostic time for acute coronary occlusion in the emergency department

BACKGROUND

Limits to ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) criteria may lead to prolonged diagnostic time for acute coronary occlusion. We aimed to reduce ECG-to-Activation (ETA) time through audit and feedback on STEMI-equivalents and subtle occlusions, without increasing Code STEMIs without culprit lesions.

METHODS

This multi-centre, quality improvement initiative reviewed all Code STEMI patients from the emergency department (ED) over a one-year baseline and one-year intervention period. We measured ETA time, from the first ED ECG to the time a Code STEMI was activated. Our intervention strategy involved a grand rounds presentation and an internal website presenting weekly local challenging cases, along with literature on STEMI-equivalents and subtle occlusions. Our outcome measure was ETA time for culprit lesions, our process measure was website views/visits, and our balancing measure was the percentage of Code STEMIs without culprit lesions.

RESULTS

There were 51 culprit lesions in the baseline period, and 64 in the intervention period. Median ETA declined from 28.0 min (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.0-45.0) to 8.0 min (95%CI 6.0-15.0). The website garnered 70.4 views/week and 27.7 visitors/week in a group of 80 physicians. There was no change in percentage of Code STEMIs without culprit lesions: 28.2% (95%CI 17.8-38.6) to 20.0% (95%CI 11.2-28.8%). Conclusions Our novel weekly web-based feedback to all emergency physicians was associated with a reduction in ETA time by 20 min, without increasing Code STEMIs without culprit lesions. Local ECG audit and feedback, guided by ETA as a quality metric for acute coronary occlusion, could be replicated in other settings to improve care.

[High-risk electrocardiographic patterns in Patients with acute coronary syndrome]

Acute myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in the world and the electrocardiogram remains the diagnostic tool for determining an acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation. In spite of this, only half of the patients present classic electrocardiogram findings compatible with the ST-elevation infarction criteria. There is a spectrum of electrocardiographic findings that may reflect a phenomenon of acute coronary occlusion, which should be promptly recognized by the clinician to offer early reperfusion therapy.

High-Risk Chief Complaints I: Chest Pain-The Big Three (an Update)

Nontraumatic chest pain is a frequent concern of emergency department patients, with causes that range from benign to immediately life threatening. Identifying those patients who require immediate/urgent intervention remains challenging and is a high-risk area for emergency medicine physicians where incorrect or delayed diagnosis may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. This article focuses on the 3 most prevalent diagnoses associated with adverse outcomes in patients presenting with nontraumatic chest pain, acute coronary syndrome, thoracic aortic dissection, and pulmonary embolism. Important aspects of clinical evaluation, diagnostic testing, treatment, and disposition and other less common causes of lethal chest pain are also discussed.

The 'de Winter' electrocardiogram pattern as a ST-elevation myocardial infarction equivalent: a case report

Background

A ‘STEMI equivalent’ electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern reflects an acute thrombotic occlusion of a large epicardial coronary artery without ST-segment elevation. These ECG patterns are less known by caregivers.

Case summary

We describe the case of a 56-year-old patient suffering from acute chest pain, presenting in our emergency department with a ‘de Winter’ ECG pattern: an upsloping ST-segment depression with tall symmetrical T waves associated with left anterior descending artery occlusion.

Discussion

The ‘de Winter’ ECG pattern, as other ‘STEMI equivalent’, must be recognized promptly and treated as soon as possible with emergent reperfusion by percutaneous coronary intervention.