STEMI

Results:
Weekly Workout May 11, 2026
Post-Arrest STEMI: Cath Lab or Caution?

A 72-year-old man is brought to the ED after witnessed cardiac arrest. Bystander CPR was started quickly, EMS found a nonshockable rhythm, epinephrine was given, and ROSC was achieved. Forty…

Weekly Workout May 4, 2026
A Post-Arrest ECG With a Dangerous New Bundle Branch Block

A 72-year-old man is brought to the ED after a witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Bystander CPR is started quickly, EMS finds a non-shockable rhythm, and ROSC is achieved after one…

ECG STAT March 20, 2026
STEMI vs Wide QRS (BBBs & Paced Rhythms): DDx

Key Points: Wide QRS rhythms distort repolarization. Bundle branch block and ventricular pacing create secondary ST-T changes even without occlusion MI. Appropriate discordance is expected. ST segments and T waves…

Weekly Workout March 16, 2026
Three ECG Traps You Cannot Afford to Miss

A 60-year-old woman presents with palpitations and an irregular wide-complex tachycardia. The computer calls atrial fibrillation with a left bundle branch block, but a subtle clue in the precordial leads…

Weekly Workout January 19, 2026
Three More ECG Pitfalls That Punish Anchoring Bias

A 51-year-old man with lung cancer presents with shortness of breath and tachycardia. The arrival ECG shows an S1Q3 pattern and seems to support a familiar diagnosis that would normally…

Weekly Workout January 12, 2026
Four ECG Pitfalls That Punish Anchoring Bias

A 43-year-old woman with sharp left-sided chest pain and minimal cardiac risk factors has an initial ECG that is not diagnostic for STEMI. She looks stable, but one feature on…

ECG STAT January 11, 2026
Occlusion MI: STEMI Criteria & Beyond

Key Points: The ECG’s primary role in ACS is detecting acute coronary occlusion. Acute coronary occlusion myocardial infarction (OMI) is a time-critical diagnosis that requires immediate reperfusion. Time is myocardium….

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
STEMI in the Presence of Baseline ECG Abnormalities

Key Points: Baseline ECG abnormalities do not protect patients from occlusion MI. They increase miss rates because they distort the ST segment and T waves. The core question is not…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
Lateral and High-Lateral STEMI: Criteria, Localization, and Pitfalls

Key Points: Lateral and high-lateral STEMI often present with subtle ST elevation and are commonly missed or labeled as nonspecific ST-T changes. Small-appearing ECG changes may represent true coronary occlusion…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
Inferior STEMI: Criteria, RV Involvement, and Pitfalls

Key Points: Inferior STEMI is the most common STEMI subtype and is frequently complicated by right ventricular and posterior involvement. Inferior occlusion may present with classic ST elevation, subtle ischemic…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
Anterior STEMI: Criteria, Localization, and Pitfalls

Key Points: Anterior STEMI represents large myocardial territory at risk and carries the highest mortality among STEMI subtypes. Early recognition and reperfusion are critical. LAD occlusion may present with classic…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
Posterior STEMI: Criteria & Pitfalls

Key Points: High risk of missed diagnosis. Isolated posterior occlusion MI is frequently missed because ST elevation is absent on the standard 12-lead ECG. Instead, posterior infarction most often presents…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
Traditional STEMI Criteria

Key Points: STAT ECG is the first decision point in ACS. The primary purpose of the initial ECG is to identify patients who meet traditional STEMI criteria and require immediate…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
STEMI vs Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: DDx

Key Points: Takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy is a transient, non-ischemic LV dysfunction—classically apical ballooning with basal hyperkinesis—often after emotional or physical stress. Presentation mimics occlusion MI (chest pain, ECG changes, elevated…

Weekly Workout October 27, 2025
The Wide Complex Rhythm That Fooled Everyone

A 30-year-old woman presents with one hour of chest discomfort and palpitations. On arrival she is borderline but not frankly unstable. The 12-lead shows a fast rhythm that appears wide…

ECG STAT October 25, 2025
Shark Fin “Massive STEMI” Pattern

Key Points: High-risk STEMI morphology caused by fusion of the terminal QRS, J point, ST segment, and T wave into a single “triangular” deflection. Often massive apparent STE with loss…

Weekly Workout September 15, 2025
Not Your Usual STEMI: High Voltage and Narrow Q Waves

A 16-year-old male is referred to the emergency department from a primary care clinic with concern for STEMI. He has no known past medical history. At the clinic, he reported…

ECG STAT August 1, 2025
Right Ventricular STEMI: Criteria & Pitfalls

Key Points: RV involvement accompanies up to ~40% of inferior STEMIs; isolated RV infarction is uncommon but high-impact when missed. Think RV MI when inferior STEMI is present and you…

Weekly Workout November 11, 2024
The Approach to Uncovering Hidden STEMI

A 92-year-old man presents to the emergency department with acute chest pain and diaphoresis. The following ECG is obtained:

Weekly Workout March 25, 2024
Interesting Cases from UMMC (2024 – Part I/III)

A 63-year-old man presents to the emergency department with acute chest pain and an episode of syncope. The following ECG is obtained, and the cath lab is activated for suspected…

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