Atrial Pacing in a Patient With Acute Inferior Wall M.I.
Some people have been taught (incorrectly) that an electronic pacemaker prevents us from seeing an acute ST elevation M.I. Not true. It can be difficult to interpret ST elevation M.I. in the setting of WIDE QRS complexes. When this situation exists, it is best left to the experienced ECG interpreter to determine whether there is STEMI. In this ECG, we see ATRIAL pacing. The patient has an intact AV conduction system. The pacemaker paces the atria, and the impulse continues normally through the AV node and the ventricles. The QRS that results is normal (narrow). In this situation, the ST segments are accurate for determining ST elevation and depression.
This patient is a 74-year-old man who complained of chest pain for five days before presenting to his primary physician at the outpatient clinic. After obtaining this ECG, the PCP transferred his patient to the Emergency Department. He was admitted to the CCU with troponin level of 2.13 ng/ML. (Normal < 1.5 ML)
Our thanks to Jason Roediger, ECG GURU, for contributing this ECG.
