Shariq Shamim1, Justin McCrary1, Lori Wayne1, Matthew Gratton1, Douglas B Bogart1. 1. 1 Cardiology Fellow University of Missouri, Kansas City, USA ; 2 Quality Improvement Director, Cardiology Section Truman Medical Center, USA ; 3 Professor and Chief of the Emergency Department University of Missouri, Kansas City and Truman Medical Center, USA ; 4 Formerly Associate Professor of Medicine University of Missouri, Kansas City and Chief of Cardiology of Truman Medical Center (Retired), USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prompt reperfusion has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with a goal of culprit vessel patency in <90 minutes. This requires a coordinated approach between the emergency medical services (EMS), emergency department (ED) and interventional cardiology. The urgency of this process can contribute to inappropriate cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) activations. OBJECTIVES: One of the major determinants of inappropriate activations has been misinterpretation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in the patient with acute chest pain. METHODS: We report the ECG findings for all CCL activations over an 18-month period after the inception of a STEMI program at our institution. RESULTS: There were a total of 139 activations with 77 having a STEMI diagnosis confirmed and 62 activations where there was no STEMI. The inappropriate activations resulted from a combination of atypical symptoms and misinterpretation of the ECG (45% due to anterior ST-segment elevation) on patient presentation. The electrocardiographic abnormalities were particularly problematic in African-Americans with left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center, prospective observational study, nearly half of the inappropriate STEMI activations were due to the misinterpretation of anterior ST-segment elevation and this finding was commonly seen in African-Americans with left ventricular hypertrophy.
BACKGROUND: Prompt reperfusion has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with a goal of culprit vessel patency in <90 minutes. This requires a coordinated approach between the emergency medical services (EMS), emergency department (ED) and interventional cardiology. The urgency of this process can contribute to inappropriate cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) activations. OBJECTIVES: One of the major determinants of inappropriate activations has been misinterpretation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in the patient with acute chest pain. METHODS: We report the ECG findings for all CCL activations over an 18-month period after the inception of a STEMI program at our institution. RESULTS: There were a total of 139 activations with 77 having a STEMI diagnosis confirmed and 62 activations where there was no STEMI. The inappropriate activations resulted from a combination of atypical symptoms and misinterpretation of the ECG (45% due to anterior ST-segment elevation) on patient presentation. The electrocardiographic abnormalities were particularly problematic in African-Americans with left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center, prospective observational study, nearly half of the inappropriate STEMI activations were due to the misinterpretation of anterior ST-segment elevation and this finding was commonly seen in African-Americans with left ventricular hypertrophy.
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