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Non-Thrombotic Causes of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
Key Points: ACS ≠ Always Thrombosis: While most ACS is due to plaque rupture with thrombus formation, several important non-thrombotic causes can produce identical ECG changes, troponin elevation, and symptoms….
Bidirectional Ventricular Tachycardia (BiVT)
Key Points: BiVT is a regular wide-complex tachycardia with strict beat-to-beat alternation of QRS axis and/or bundle-branch pattern (often an approximately 180° frontal-plane axis flip). In adults, assume digoxin toxicity…
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….
STEMI (-) Occlusion MI: OMI Patterns
Key Points: Traditional STEMI criteria miss many acute coronary occlusions. A substantial proportion of true OMIs do not meet classic millimetric STEMI thresholds. OMI is a pathophysiologic diagnosis, not an…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
STEMI vs Early Repolarization: DDx
Key Points: Early repolarization (ER) is a common, benign ECG pattern that most often appears in young, healthy patients. It can closely resemble acute anterior STEMI, creating a high-risk diagnostic…
STEMI vs LV Aneurysm: DDx
Key Points: LV aneurysm pattern is a post MI scar pattern with persistent ST elevation in the prior infarct territory, usually with pathologic Q waves and a stable, non evolving…
STEMI Mimics: DDx
Key Points: ST elevation is a pattern, not a diagnosis. STEMI represents one cause of ST elevation and requires correlation with ECG morphology, distribution, evolution, and clinical context. Most ED…
STEMI vs Severe Hyperkalemia: DDx
Key Points: Severe hyperkalemia is a true ECG chameleon. It can produce ST elevation, wide QRS complexes, axis shifts, and conduction blocks that closely mimic STEMI or ventricular tachycardia. New…
STEMI vs Acute Pericarditis: DDx
Key Points: Start by looking for STEMI, not pericarditis. The safest workflow is to actively search for occlusion MI features first, then use pericarditis features as supportive evidence. Reciprocal ST…
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…
ST Depression V1-V4: OMI Pattern
Key Points: Most missed occlusion MI. Isolated posterior occlusion MI is frequently missed because the standard 12-lead ECG often lacks ST elevation. Instead, posterior injury appears as reciprocal anterior ST…
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…
Earliest Evidence of Occlusion MI
Key Points: ACS is dynamic. Coronary arteries can occlude, partially reperfuse, and re-occlude over minutes to hours, and the ECG can show these shifts before biomarkers do. The earliest actionable…
Post-Thrombolytic Reperfusion ECG Findings
Key Points Reperfusion after fibrinolysis is a bedside diagnosis using a bundle of findings: symptoms, ECG trend, and hemodynamic/electrical stability. Best ECG marker of successful fibrinolysis: at least 50% ST-segment…
ECG Evidence of Reperfusion After Occlusion
Key Points Reperfusion and re-occlusion can occur spontaneously or after therapy. The ECG often reflects these changes earlier than symptoms. Most useful bedside ECG marker of reperfusion is ST-segment resolution…
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