Interesting case from an elder woman with chest pressure! Unfortunately, a long lead rhythm strip is missing. That said, the rhythm appears to be a marked sinus arrhythmia with 1st-degree AV block (PR interval ~0.22 second). The axis is normal — the QRS and QT intervals are normal — and there is no chamber enlargement. The most remarkable findings are coved (hyperacute) ST elevation in both high lateral leads (leads I, aVL) — with a hyperacute ST-T wave in lead V2 (and perhaps to a lesser extent in V3, V4). Other leads show ST-T wave flattening, with a picture of “mirror-image” ST depression in lead III with respect to the ST elevation with see in lead aVL. The picture looks like an acute STEMI ( = ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) — although determination of the “culprit artery” is a bit more challenging. One usually expects lateral chest lead ST elevation with LCx (Left CircumfleX) occlusion. The 1st Diagonal branch of the LAD (Left Anterior Descending) artery typically supplies the high lateral wall, and occlusion of this 1st Diagonal branch may provide a picture of ST elevation in lead aVL and in lead V2, but in no other anterior leads. That would have been my guess for the “culprit artery” in this case. Alas, we are told that cath showed clean coronary arteries, with a picture consistent with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Comment: This is why cardiac catheterization is done. It keeps us “honest”. Even when one thinks the answer is known — there will be occasional surprises. That said, correct management was pursued in this case. It was recognized that prompt cath to define the anatomy was indicated — and doing so confirmed that this ECG picture in this patient was not the result of a STEMI.

Brief review of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy can be found HERE. To my knowledge, there is no diagnostic ECG picture. Instead, a variety of ECG findings may be seen. The diagnosis can be suspected in elderly patients (especially female) when a clear history of preceding physical or emotional stress can be elicited. Heart failure is common. Usually there is no more than modest troponin elevation. In my experience — the ECG picture often “does not fit” the distribution for that of a typical STEMI … — but not uncommonly, cath will be needed to make the diagnosis. The “good news” is that these patients generally have a favorable longterm prognosis — often with full recovery over ensuing weeks (but occasional fatalities may occur).

While recognizing that Tako-Tsubo can present with various ECG findings, the present ECG looks rather atypical to me in comparison to "classical " appearance of Tako-Tsubo syndrome: though neither absolutely definitive nor diagnostic, I would have expcted more prolonged QTc and especially ST elevation in inferior leads (in accordance with the peculiar myocardial involvement. Anyway, as we all know the diagnosis should be confirmed on echo or ventriculography (apical balooning) or at worst by observing improvement of EF over time.