Activate or Wait – 002

81-year-old female with three hours of central, crushing chest pain. Background of hypertension, heavy smoker.

We are 10 minutes from your tertiary centre.

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Would you activate your cath lab/STEMI protocol?
ECG interpretation

Anteroseptal STEMI

  • Concordant ST elevation in leads V2-4, I and aVL — note the presence of right bundle branch block (RBBB)
  • Reciprocal concordant ST depression in inferior leads II, III, aVF
  • Evolving Q waves in aVR, aVL and V1-2

Concurrent left anterior fascicular block (left axis deviation) in this case indicates a bifascicular block. Although this may be pre-existing, a new bifascicular often accompanies a proximal LAD occlusion, as the right bundle branch and left anterior fascicle are supplied by a proximal septal branch of the LAD.

ST elevation in anterior leads here is prominent, however in the presence of a right bundle branch block, any degree of concordant ST elevation is highly concerning for occlusion myocardial infarction (OMI).

Outcome

Key finding:

40% occlusion of proximal LAD – likely plaque rupture with thrombus but no occlusive disease.


Findings:

  • Left Main Coronary Artery -Normal
  • Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery – 40% after LADD2
  • Left Circumflex Coronary Artery – 30% proximal
  • Right Coronary Artery -Dominant, irregular
  • Left Ventriculogram -anterior hypokinesis with mild LV impairment


Recommendation:
Likely plaque rupture LAD with thrombus but no occlusive disease

  1. Medical management with 12 months dual antiplatelet therapy
  2. Aggressive cardiovascular risk factor management.
  3. Admit to CCU


References

Further reading

Online resources


ACTIVATE or WAIT

EKG Interpretation

MBBS (Hons), BMSci (Hons), ASCeXAM (Testamur). Cardiology Registrar at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Australia. Graduate of The University of Western Australia in 2016 with Honours and completed Basic Physician Training with the RACP in 2021. Passion lie in cardiac imaging and electrophysiology.

MBBS (UWA) CCPU (RCE, Biliary, DVT, E-FAST, AAA) Adult/Paediatric Emergency Medicine Advanced Trainee in Melbourne, Australia. Special interests in diagnostic and procedural ultrasound, medical education, and ECG interpretation. Editor-in-chief of the LITFL ECG Library. Twitter: @rob_buttner

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