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Inferior Posterior Wall M.I. In Cabrera Format

Submitted by Dawn on Sat, 08/26/2023 - 16:53

Does something about this ECG look "different" to you?    This ECG shows a “classic” presentation of inferior-posterior M.I. when it is caused by a lesion in the right coronary artery (RCA). There are ST elevations in leads II, III, and aVF.  Reciprocal ST depression is seen in Leads I and aVL.  There is also reciprocal ST depression in Leads V1 – V3.  These more rightward anterior leads are reciprocal to the posterior (or posterior-lateral) wall, so the ST elevation is actually posterior.  Another sign that this is an RCA lesion is that the ST elevation in Lead III looks worse than the STE in Lead II.  It would be helpful to check the right precordial leads, or at least V4 Right, as elevation there would indicate right ventricular M.I. 

Depending on how experienced you are at evaluating ECGs, you might have immediately noticed something “different” about this tracing.  It is printed in Cabrera format, which groups the leads (viewpoints) more geographically than a traditional ECG does.  In addition to grouping the leads more geographically, instead of aVR, the machine records - aVR.  That reverses the negative and positive poles of aVR, putting the positive ("seeking") electrode at 30 degrees - halfway between Leads I and II.   Those of us who have been looking at ECGs for decades often feel a bit disconcerted by this format, because we have developed almost an intuitive way of seeing the ECG as a “map”, and this rearrangement thwarts our brains’ approach to the ECG.  I would imagine, however, that this might make interpretation a bit easier for someone who is not prejudiced by the standard way of printing.  This method is especially helpful when looking for inferior wall M.I., as we see here, because the lateral leads are together in a row, and the inferior leads are grouped together. 

Dawn's picture

Inferior Posterior M.I.

Submitted by Dawn on Mon, 07/24/2023 - 14:41

This is a "classic" ECG of very good quality for you to use in a classroom setting.

The Patient:  A 57-year-old man who complains of a sudden onset of "sharp" chest pain while on a long bike ride.  The pain does not radiate, and nothing makes it worse or better.  He is pale, cool, and diaphoretic.  His medical history is unknown.

The ECG:  This ECG could be considered "classic" for an inferior wall ST elevation M.I. caused by occlusion of the right coronary artery.  ECG findings include:

*   Normal sinus rhythm

*   Marked ST elevation in Leads II, III, and aVF.  The elevation is higher in Lead III than in Lead II, a reliable sign of RCA occlusion.

*   Reciprocal depression in Leads aVL and I.  ST depression in the setting of acute transmural ischemia (STEMI) is almost ALWAYS due to  reciprocal change. The fact that this STD is localized to leads that are reciprocal to the inferior wall is proof of the nature of the STD.

*   Reciprocal depression in V1 - V3.  More localized depression.  What wall is reciprocal to the anterior-septal wall?  The posterior (postero-lateral).  Since the inferior wall is really the lower part of the posterior wall, inferior wall M.I. is often accompanied by posterior wall M.I.

An additional lead, V4R, is helpful in this situation, since the right ventricle is often affected in RCA occlusions.  The EMS crew reports that V4R was negative for ST elevation, but we do not have a copy.

Small q waves have formed in Lead III, and we would watch for progression of this sign, as it can indicate necrosis.

Outcome:  The patient went to the cath lab, but we have no further followup.

 

Our thanks to Ashley Terrana for donating this tracing.

 

 

Dawn's picture

Inferior-lateral M.I. With QRS Fragmentation

Submitted by Dawn on Sat, 08/13/2016 - 23:33

SUBTLE ST CHANGES   This ECG was obtained from an 87-year-old man who was experiencing chest pain.  Due to the subtle ST elevation in Leads II, III, aVF, V5, and V6, (inferior- lateral walls) the ECG was transmitted to the hospital by the EMS crew, and the cath lab was activated.  The patient denied previous cardiac history. 

In addition to the subtle ST elevation, there is ST depression in V1 through V4, which represents a reciprocal view of the injury in the inferior-posterior-lateral wall.  Because the anterior wall is superior in its position in the chest, it is opposite the inferior/posterior wall, and can show ST depression when the inferior-posterior area has ST elevation. This ECG was the 6th one done during this EMS call.  Prior to this one, the ST segments were elevated less than 1 mm.  This is a good example of the value of repeat ECGs during an acute event.  

RIGHT VENTRICULAR M.I.?     This ECG was done with V4 placed on the right side, to check for right ventricular M.I., which is a protocol for this EMS agency. When the right coronary artery is the culprit artery (about 80% of IWMIs), RVMI is likely.  In RVMI, we would usually see reciprocal ST depression in Leads I and aVL, but the STE is very subtle here, so the depression would likely be also.  When the culprit artery is the left circumflex artery (<20%), lateral lead ST elevation is more likely, as we see here in V5 and V6. 

WHAT ABOUT RHYTHM?     The rhythm is sinus with PACs.  PACs are considered to be benign in most situations, but in a patient with acute M.I., any dysrhythmia can be concerning. The QT interval, measured as QTc (corrected to a heart rate of 60 bpm), is slightly prolonged at .458 seconds (458 ms).  Over .440 seconds is considered prolonged in men, and over .500 sec. places the patient at increased risk of developing torsades de pointes.  CAD and myocardial ischemia can lead to this modest increase in QTc.

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Inferior-posterior M.I. With Subtle ST Elevation

Submitted by Dawn on Mon, 01/18/2016 - 00:24

This ECG is a good example of an inferior wall M.I. that was confirmed and treated in the cath lab.

The ST segments are elevated in Leads II, III, and aVF, but the amount of elevation may look subtle to some.   When the amount of elevation seems small, what other signs can help us recognize acute ST-elevation M.I.? 

PATIENT HISTORY AND PRESENTATION   This patient had acute chest pain, and was over the age of 50. We do not know his past medical history. His chest pain was described as substernal and epigastric, radiating to his back.  He had nausea and diaphoresis.  His past medical history is unknown, but it would be significant if he had a history of coronary artery disease, past M.I., smoking, metabolic syndrome, strong family history of heart disease, etc.

ST SEGMENT ELEVATION DISTRIBUTION   In acute STEMI, the elevation will be seen in “related leads”. That is, the leads that are affected will reflect a region of the heart that is supplied by the same artery. Some M.I.s are larger than others, affecting more leads, because some obstructions are more proximal than others in the artery.  This ECG shows STE in the inferior wall leads:  II, III, and aVF.  The culprit artery for this patient was the right coronary artery, which supplies the inferior and posterior wall of the left ventricle, the right ventricle, and the right atrium in the majority of people.

RECIPROCAL ST DEPRESSION   Finding reciprocal ST depression in the leads that are OPPOSITE the affected leads is a very reliable sign to confirm that the STEs are due to an acute M.I.  In fact, often the reciprocal depression is “stronger” or easier to see than the elevation.  It is important to teach your students how the standard leads are oriented to the heart, so they will recognize the 12-Lead ECG as a “map” of the heart.  The reciprocal ST depression in this ECG is seen in Leads aVL and I (subtle), which are across the frontal plane from Lead III.   We also note reciprocal ST depression in the precordial leads, especially notable in Leads V1 through V3.  This can reflect the injured area extending up the back of the heart from the inferior wall (posterior wall).  The R waves in V2 and V3 are a bit higher than normally expected, which could indicate a reciprocal view of pathological Q waves on the posterior wall.  Print the ECG out on paper, turn it upside down, and look at V2 and V3 through the back.  V2 and V3 will look like a “classic” STEMI.  This should be approximately the view you would get from additional posterior leads.

Dawn's picture

Inferior-lateral and Posterior M.I.

Submitted by Dawn on Thu, 01/15/2015 - 23:55

This is from a Cardiac Alert patient, with chest pain, in the Emergency Department.  The ECG shows ST elevation in the inferior leads (II, III, and aVF), and in the low lateral leads (V5 and V6).  There is reciprocal depression in V1 and V2, indicating injury in the posterior wall.  One could argue that "inferior" is just the term we use for the lower part of the posterior wall - the part that faces the floor in a standing person.  So, "inferior-posterior" reflects a more proximal occlusion of the culprit artery.

The high lateral wall is represented by I and aVL.  These leads would usually show marked reciprocal ST depression when II, III, and aVF have elevation.  However, in this ECG, aVL is depressed, but not as much as expected, and Lead I almost looks elevated!  This could represent even more extensive lateral wall involvement.  A dominant right coronary artery could be the culprit, but it seems more likely that a dominant circumflex artery is to blame, as it could perfuse the entire lateral wall before joining with the posterior descending artery and perfusing the inferior wall.  Unfortunately, we do not have the cath results on this patient.

The ST elevation in this ECG has the classic appearance of acute M.I., and will be interesting to both beginner and advanced students.

Often, one ECG can provide a wealth of teaching opportunities, no matter what the level of your students.  For the student learning to monitor the rate and rhythm, you might crop this image to only show the Lead II rhythm strip at the bottom, for a good example of normal sinus rhythm with a borderline PRI of .20 sec.   For the student learning about ST elevation M.I., this is a good example of inferior-posterior and lateral injury.  Leads aVL, V1 and V2 demonstrate reciprocal ST depression.  When an observant student notices the slight ST elevation in V6, a discussion of coronary artery distribution can occur.  

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