Critical ECG: ACS Flashcards
What is the significance of De Winter’s T-waves?
- STEMI equivalent!
- EARLY sign in development of an occlusive MI
- Patient should receive close follow-up monitoring (serial 12-lead ECGs) and advocacy for cardiology consult
Is the pattern seen here consistent with Wellen’s Type A, Type B, or neither?
Wellen’s Type A
Biphasic “uppy-downy” T-waves in V1-V3
In which situations should a diagnosis of aVR STEMI be considered with extreme caution?
- Significant tachycardia
- aVR STEMI pattern is common in significant tachycardia due to rate-related ischemia, and is unlikely to be due to infarction
- Absence of signs/symptoms of ACS
- Consider other causes which may cause global hypoxia/ischemia (i.e. sepsis, respiratory failure, anemia, etc.)
Are reciprocal changes considered in the current AHA guidelines for STEMI recognition?
NO!
- Just look for 2 contiguous leads with >1.0mm STE (or more in V2/V3, age/sex dependent)
Compare sensitivity and specificity of the Sgarbossa and Smith-modified criteria for AMI in the presence of LBBB/pacing
- Sgarbossa criteria are Specific (96%) but non-sensitive (36%) for AMI
- This is largely due to the lack of sensitivity in Sgarbossa’s third criterion (excessive discordance)
- Smith’s modified rule improves sensitivity substantially (91%) with a slight decrease in specificity (90%)
Classify the ST changes shown in terms of:
Elevation/depression/neither
Concordant/discordant/neither
Concordant ST elevation
This is a STEMI until proven otherwise! (36% sensitivity, 90% specificity)
De Winter’s T-waves are characterized by precordial ST elevation with inverted T-waves, true or false
FALSE!
This is the opposite of what is true…. DWTWs involve ST-DEPRESSION!
Describe Smith’s modification to the Sgarbossa Criteria
- Replaces Sgarbossa’s 3rd criterion (first 2 are unchanged) relating to excessively discordant ST elevation
- Considers the ratio between the STE and the magnitude of the preceding S-wave
- If ST/S ratio is >0.25 in a lead with discordant STE (i.e. if the ST elevation is more than a quarter the size of the S-wave) then the complex is said to be smith-positive and AMI should be suspected
- Improves the sensitivity (but not specificity) of the Sgarbossa criteria
Is the pattern seen here consistent with Wellen’s Type A, Type B, or neither?
Wellen’s Type B
Deeply inverted symmetrical T-waves throughout precordial leads
Is the pattern seen here consistent with Wellen’s Type A, Type B, or neither?
Neither!
These appear to be biphasic T-waves, but are negative-then-positive. Wellen’s type A is positivie-then-negative (uppy-downy).
Classify the ST changes shown in terms of:
Elevation/depression/neither
Concordant/discordant/neither
If relevant, assess for excessive discordance by Sgarbossa’s original criteria and Smith’s modified criteria
Discordant ST elevation
This is excessive discordance both by Sgarbossa’s original criteria (STE >5mm) and by Smith’s modified criteria (ST/S ratio >0.25)
This is a STEMI until proven otherwise (>90% sensitivity AND specificity)
What are the key criteria for recognizing De Winter’s T-waves on the 12-lead ECG?
- J-Point depression with up-sloping ST segments.
- Tall, prominent, symmetric T waves in the precordial leads.
- AKA “rocket-shaped” T waves
- Upsloping ST segment depression > 1mm at the J-point in the precordial leads.
- Absence of ST elevation in the precordial leads.
- ST segment elevation (0.5mm-1mm) in aVR.
Which leads may show relatively large ST-elevations, even at baseline?
V2 and V3
Have a higher threshold for ST-Elevation in these leads. >2.5mm in males younger than 40, >2.0mm in males older than 40, and >1.5mm in females. In all other leads, the threshold is 1.0mm
In the context of LBBB, is excessively discordant (>5mm) ST elevation in a single lead sensitive or specific for AMI?
NO! Unless it is also Smith-positive (ST/S>0.25)!
Sgarbossa’s third criterion in isolation is neither sensitive nor specific for AMI
Describe “appropriate discordance” in LBBB
- ST elevation or depression is normal and expected in LBBB so long as it is in the OPPOSITE direction of the majority of the QRS complex (discordant), and is not excessive in magnitude
- inappropriate, or “excessive” discordance is defined by the Smith-modified Sgarbossa criteria as:
- Discordant ST elevation >1/4 the magnitude of the preceding S wave
- alternatively stated as an ST/T ratio >0.25
When are the Sgarbossa criteria applied?
- Used to identify AMI in the setting of LBBB or a ventricular paced rhythm.
- These patterns typically have a baseline amount of ST-elevation, which may conceal AMI