Paramedic Identification of Electrocardiograph J-Point and ST-Segments

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 526-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett Williams ◽  
Mal Boyle ◽  
Bill Lord

AbstractIntroduction:Correct identification of the J-Point and ST-segment on an electrocardiograph (ECG) is an important clinical skill for paramedics working in acute healthcare settings. The skill of ECG analysis and interpretation is known to be challenging to learn and often is a difficult concept to teach.Objectives:The objective of the study was to determine if undergraduate paramedic students could accurately identify ECG ST-segment elevation and J-Point location.Methods:A convenience sample of undergraduate paramedic students (n = 148) was provided with four enlarged ECGs (ECG1–4) that illustrated different levels, patterns, and characteristics of ST-segment elevation. Participants were asked to identify whether ST-elevation was present, and if so, height in millimeters (mm) and the correct location of the J-Point.Results:There were significant variations in students'accuracy with both J-Point and ST-segment determination. Eleven (10%) students correctly identified the ST-segment being present in all ECGs. Also, ECG 2 reflected 6 mm of ST-elevation; however, only one student correctly identified this. Overall the students were 0.55 mm (95% CI = 0.29–0.81 mm, range = -6.5–5.8 mm) from the J-point on the horizontal and -0.18 mm (95% CI = -0.31–0.04 mm, range = -2.8–2.3 mm) on the vertical axis.Conclusions:Undergraduate paramedic students recognize ST-segment elevation. However, inaccuracies occurred with measurements of ST-segment and precise location of J-Points. Errors in ECG analysis may reflect weaknesses in teaching this skill. Consideration should be given to the design of an educational program that can reliably improve performance of this skill.

Author(s):  
Rod Partow-Navid ◽  
Narut Prasitlumkum ◽  
Ashish Mukherjee ◽  
Padmini Varadarajan ◽  
Ramdas G. Pai

AbstractST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a life-threatening condition that requires emergent, complex, well-coordinated treatment. Although the primary goal of treatment is simple to describe—reperfusion as quickly as possible—the management process is complicated and is affected by multiple factors including location, patient, and practitioner characteristics. Hence, this narrative review will discuss the recommended management and treatment strategies of STEMI in the circumstances.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarun W Dasari ◽  
Steve Hamilton ◽  
Anita Y Chen ◽  
Tracy Y Wang ◽  
James A de Lemos ◽  
...  

Background: There is little recent data describing the characteristics and outcomes of STEMI patients who do not undergo urgent reperfusion. Methods: Using the ACTION Registry®-GWTG™ database, we examined 232,208 STEMI patients presenting January 2007 through December 2013 at 793 U.S. centers. The cohort was divided into those who underwent reperfusion (n=194,916; 84%), had documented contraindication to reperfusion (n=31,518; 13.5%) and were eligible but not reperfused (n=5,774; 2.5%). Clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared between these groups. Results: Compared with those reperfused, patients not reperfused were older, more often female and had higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, MI, stroke and atrial fibrillation. LBBB and CHF were more common in the non-reperfused groups upon presentation. The major documented contraindications to reperfusion were unsuitable anatomy for primary PCI (31%), symptoms onset > 12 hours (9%), patient/family refusal/DNR status (6%), resolved chest pain (6%) and ST elevation (5%) presentation to non-PCI centers (4%). Three-vessel disease and in-hospital CABG were more common in non-reperfused patients with and without contraindication compared with those receiving reperfusion (39 & 37% vs. 26%, p<0.001) and (17 & 17% vs. 3%, p<0.001 respectively). In-hospital outcomes are summarized in the table. Conclusion: Most STEMI patients who were not reperfused had a documented contraindication. Unsuitable anatomy for PCI was the major contributor to ineligibility. In hospital mortality, death/MI and cardiogenic shock were higher in the non-reperfused groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Flamée ◽  
Varnavas Varnavas ◽  
Wendy Dewals ◽  
Hugo Carvalho ◽  
Wilfried Cools ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Brugada Syndrome is an inherited arrhythmogenic disease, characterized by the typical coved type ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads from V1 through V3. The BrugadaDrugs.org Advisory Board recommends avoiding administration of propofol in patients with Brugada Syndrome. Since prospective studies are lacking, it was the purpose of this study to assess the electrocardiographic effects of propofol and etomidate on the ST- and QRS-segments. In this trial, it was hypothesized that administration of propofol or etomidate in bolus for induction of anesthesia, in patients with Brugada Syndrome, do not clinically affect the ST- and QRS-segments and do not induce arrhythmias. Methods In this prospective, double-blinded trial, 98 patients with established Brugada syndrome were randomized to receive propofol (2 to 3 mg/kg-1) or etomidate (0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg-1) for induction of anesthesia. The primary endpoints were the changes of the ST- and QRS-segment, and the occurrence of new arrhythmias upon induction of anesthesia. Results The analysis included 80 patients: 43 were administered propofol and 37 etomidate. None of the patients had a ST elevation greater than or equal to 0.2 mV, one in each group had a ST elevation of 0.15 mV. An ST depression up to −0.15mV was observed eleven times with propofol and five with etomidate. A QRS-prolongation of 25% upon induction was seen in one patient with propofol and three with etomidate. This trial failed to establish any evidence to suggest that changes in either group differed, with most percentiles being zero (median [25th, 75th], 0 [0, 0] vs. 0 [0, 0]). Finally, no new arrhythmias occurred perioperatively in both groups. Conclusions In this trial, there does not appear to be a significant difference in electrocardiographic changes in patients with Brugada syndrome when propofol versus etomidate were administered for induction of anesthesia. This study did not investigate electrocardiographic changes related to propofol used as an infusion for maintenance of anesthesia, so future studies would be warranted before conclusions about safety of propofol infusions in patients with Brugada syndrome can be determined. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34
Author(s):  
Diego Echeverri- Marín ◽  
Cristhian Felipe Ramirez Ramos ◽  
Andrés Miranda-Arboleda ◽  
Gustavo Castilla-Agudelo ◽  
Clara Saldarriaga-Giraldo

Acute myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in the world and the electrocardiogram remains the diagnostic tool for determining an acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation. In spite of this, only half of the patients present classic electrocardiogram findings compatible with the ST-elevation infarction criteria. There is a spectrum of electrocardiographic findings that may reflect a phenomenon of acute coronary occlusion, which should be promptly recognized by the clinician to offer early reperfusion therapy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 2598
Author(s):  
C. P. Karunadas ◽  
Cibu Mathew

Electrocardiography (ECG) patterns of ST-segment elevation in lead aVR with or without diffuse ST segment depression may predict either left main coronary artery or triple vessel stenosis. Here, we have presented the case of a 56-year-old female involving such an ECG pattern with ST-segment depression in more than eight leads and ST Segment elevation in lead aVR, however, showing stenosis of the mid-segment of the left circumflex artery (LCX). She was scheduled to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention with implantation of a drug-eluting stent with respect to mid LCX stenosis. The patient was asymptomatic post procedure and was discharged on beta blockers. To conclude, the ECG pattern of ST depression in multiple leads with ST-elevation in aVR lead can occur in LCX obstruction as well. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1435-1442
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Xiuyu Liang ◽  
Yuzhe Fan ◽  
Gendong Zhou ◽  
Xiaohong Zhang

To explore the relationship between the changes of ECG indexes and the prognosis after PCI in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and to develop the evaluation method and analyze the advantages and characteristics. 420 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were admitted to our hospital from March 2017 to April 2020. They were divided into the observation group (ST segment elevation type) with 220 patients and control group (non-ST segment elevation type) with 200 patients according to whether ST segment elevation was or not. ECG was detected before and 1 hour after operation, evaluation of thrombolytic effect, 6-minute walking test and echocardiography were performed 3 months after operation. Compared with the control group, the ECG of the observation group showed St Compared with the control group, the thrombolytic effect of the observation group was significantly improved, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05); compared with the control group, the thrombolysis effect of the observation group was significantly improved, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05); ECG index can effectively reflect the recovery of cardiac function after PCI in patients with acute STEMI, and can effectively indicate the improvement of symptoms in patients with AMI, which is worthy of clinical application.


Author(s):  
Borja Ibanez ◽  
Stefan James

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a life-threatening conditioning caused by an abrup occlusion of an epicardial coronary artery. Reperfusion (ideally by primary angioplasty, and if not timely available by systemic fibrinolysis) massively improves survival in STEMI patients. Healthcare systems attending STEMI patients in the early phase are critical for a correct triage, reperfusion strategy selection and initial treatment. Besides reperfusion, coadjuvant therapies are critical to improve the success of management and in turn improves long-term mortality and morbidility associated with STEMI. The present chapter presents the state-of-art evidence guiding recommendations for treatment of STEMI with a special focus on the early phases of the process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 827-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rami Abu Fanne ◽  
Michael Kleiner Shochat ◽  
Avraham Shotan ◽  
Aharon Frimerman ◽  
Emad Maraga ◽  
...  

Background: Previous studies, published before the advent of primary reperfusion, described the electrocardiographic features of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by total diagonal artery occlusion, as demonstrated at pre-discharge coronary angiography. We aimed to assess the electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features in STEMI unequivocally attributed to a diagonal lesion in the era of primary coronary intervention. Methods: The electrocardiograms and echocardiograms of patients sustaining STEMI caused by diagonal artery involvement were compared with those of patients with STEMI attributed to proximal or mid left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesions. ST-segment deviations were measured at four different points in each lead and analyzed against TIMI flow and SNuH score. The electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features of each group were mapped. Results: In contrast to previous studies claiming an ever-present incidence of at least 1-mm ST-segment elevation in leads I and aVL with diagonal STEMI, we report 86% of any ST-elevation in leads I, aVL and V2 (64–71% for ST-elevation >1 mm). Both higher SNuH score and pre-intervention TIMI flow were associated with larger lateral ST-elevations (85.7% and 86.4–95.5%, respectively). Higher prevalence of ST-depression in the inferior leads reflecting reciprocal changes was observed in patients with diagonal-induced STEMI (57–76% vs. 24–51% in LAD obstructions, p <0.05). Conclusion: The most sensitive and predictive sign for acute ischemia was any degree of ST-deviation measured 1 mm beyond the J point. ST-elevations in I, aVL and V2, sparing V3-V5, strongly favor isolated diagonal lesion. Proximal LAD lesion lacking ST-segment elevations in leads I and aVL is primarily due to wraparound LAD anatomy.


Author(s):  
David Erlinge ◽  
Göran Olivecrona

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is generally caused by a ruptured plaque that triggers local thrombus formation, which occludes the coronary artery. STEMI should be diagnosed rapidly, based on the combination of ST-segment elevation and symptoms of acute myocardial infarction. The main treatment objective is myocardial tissue reperfusion as quickly as possible. The preferred method of reperfusion is primary percutaneous coronary interventionif transport time is below 2 hours, and thrombolysis if longer STEMI patients with acute onset cardiogenic shock should be evaluated by echocardiography to exclude mechanical complications, such as flail mitral insufficiency, ventricular septal defect or tamponade. Secondary prevention includes aspirin, adenosine diphosphate receptor antagonists, statins, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzymeinhibitors, and lifestyle changes.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document