院前心电图对ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者进门至再灌注时间的影响

目的观察院前12导联心电图对急性ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进门至再灌注时间的影响。方法多中心现况调查2006年1～12月期间就诊于北京市19所医院并接受再灌注治疗的急性STEMI患者。根据有无院前心电图分为有心电图组和无心电图组。结果 635例患者中,接受直接经皮冠脉介入治疗(PPCI)者506例(79.7%),其中有心电图者211例(41.7%),无心电图者295例(58.3%);接受溶栓者129例(20.3%),其中有心电图者46例(35.7%),无心电图者83例(64.3%)。院前心电图可显著缩短进门-球囊扩张时间(中位数,120 min比150 min;P0.01),而对进门-溶栓时间(中位数,74min比93min;P=0.168)无影响。有心电图组进门90min内完成球囊扩张的比例显著高于无心电图组(24.6%比15.9%,P=0.017)。无论接受何种再灌注治疗,院前心电图对住院病死率无影响。结论院前心电图可显著缩短STEMI患者的进门-球囊扩张时间。应进一步提高院前心电图完成率。     

Effect of prehospital 12-lead electrocardiogram on activation of the cardiac catheterization laboratory and door-to-balloon time in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction

Reducing door-to-balloon (D + B) time during primary percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) reduces mortality. Prehospital 12-lead electrocadiography (ECG) with cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) activation may reduce D + B time. Paramedic-performed ECG was initiated in the city of San Diego in January 2005 with STEMI diagnosis based on an automated computer algorithm. We undertook this study to determine the effect of prehospital CCL activation on D + B time for patients with acute STEMI brought to our institution. All data were prospectively collected for patients with STEMI including times to treatment and clinical outcomes. We evaluated 78 consecutive patients with STEMI from January 2005 to June 2006, and the study group consisted of all patients with prehospital activation of the CCL (field STEMI; n = 20). The control groups included concurrently-treated patients with STEMI during the same period who presented to the emergency department (nonfield STEMI; n = 28), and all patients with STEMI treated in the preceding year (2004) (historical STEMI; n = 30). Prehospital CCL activation significantly reduced D + B time (73 +/- 19 minutes field STEMI, 130 +/- 66 minutes nonfield STEMI, 141 +/- 49 minutes historical STEMI; p <0.001) with significant reductions in door-to-CCL and CCL-to-balloon times as well. The majority of patients with field STEMI achieved D + B times of <90 minutes (80% field STEMI, 25% nonfield STEMI, 10% historical STEMI; p <0.001). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that prehospital electrocardiographic diagnosis of STEMI with activation of the CCL markedly reduces D + B time.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

入院前电话通知对中老年ST段抬高心肌梗死患者进急诊室至球囊扩张时间的影响

目的 探讨入院前心电图采集和电话通知对ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者进入急诊室至球囊扩张时间[进门至球囊扩张(door to balloon,D2B)时间]的影响. 方法 对2006年1月至2007年12月就诊于北京安贞医院抢救中心并接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的STEMI患者的临床资料进行分析.将患者分为3组:无入院前心电图(无心电图)组、有入院前心电图(有心电图)组和依据入院前心电图进行电话通知(电话通知)组.主要分析指标为D2B时间.次要分析指标为住院期间患者病死率. 结果 纳入研究患者402例,其中无心电图组137例(34.1%),有心电图组176例(43.8%),电话通知组89例(22.1%).3组患者年龄、性别、既往病史及心肌梗死部位比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05).与无心电图组比较,有心电图组和电话通知组患者D2B时间缩短,3组分别为113 min、96 min和86 min(均P<0.01).3组患者住院期间病死率[分别为4例(2.9%)、4例(2.3%)和3例(2.2%)]比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05). 结论 入院前心电图采集和早期电话通知能缩短STEMI患者D2B时间,使更多的患者D2B时间<90 min.入院前与医院建立电话联系可缩短再灌注时间.     

Effect on treatment delay of prehospital teletransmission of 12-lead electrocardiogram to a cardiologist for immediate triage and direct referral of patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction to primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Prehospital electrocardiogram (ECG) transmission to hospitals was shown to reduce time to treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, new technologies allow transmission directly to a mobile unit so an attending physician can respond irrespective of presence within or outside the hospital. The primary study purpose was to determine whether delays could be decreased in an urban area by transmitting a prehospital 12-lead ECG directly to the attending cardiologist's mobile telephone for rapid triage and transport to a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) center, bypassing local hospitals and emergency departments. A secondary purpose was to describe whether transport would be safe despite longer transport times. During a 2-year period, patients with acute nontraumatic chest pain had their prehospital ECG transmitted directly to a cardiologist's mobile telephone. Time to treatment was compared with historic controls. After ECG evaluation, 168 patients (30%) were referred directly for PCI, and 146 of these (87%) underwent emergent catheterization. In referred patients, median time from 911 call to PCI was significantly shorter than in the control group (74 vs 127 minutes; p <0.001). Accordingly, door-to-PCI time was 63 minutes shorter for referred patients versus controls (34 vs 97 minutes; p <0.001). During transport, 7 patients (4%) experienced ventricular fibrillation; 3 patients (2%), ventricular tachycardia; and 1 patient (0.5%), pulseless electrical activity, including 2 deaths (1%) caused by treatment-resistant arrhythmia. In conclusion, transmission of a prehospital 12-lead ECG directly to the attending cardiologist's mobile telephone decreased door-to-PCI time by >1 hour when patients were transported directly to PCI centers, bypassing local hospitals. Ambulance transport seems safe despite longer transport times.     

Maximal increase in sensitivity with minimal loss of specificity for diagnosis of acute coronary occlusion achieved by sequentially adding leads from the 24-lead electrocardiogram to the orderly sequenced 12-lead electrocardiogram

Objectives

This study investigates whether sequential addition of inverted (negative) leads from the 24-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) to the orderly sequenced 12-lead ECG would identify a number of leads with which the sensitivity for diagnosis of acute transmural ischemia is significantly increased with minimal loss of specificity.

Background

Acute transmural ischemia due to thrombotic coronary occlusion typically progresses to infarction. Its recognition is based on currently accepted ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) criteria with suboptimal sensitivity, which could be potentially increased by consideration of the principle that each of the 12 ECG leads can be inverted to provide an additional lead with the opposite (180°) orientation, generating a 24-lead ECG.

Methods

The study population included 162 patients who underwent prolonged coronary occlusion during elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Balloon occlusion was performed in the left anterior descending coronary artery (51 patients), in the right coronary artery (67 patients), or in the left circumflex coronary artery (44 patients). To be classified as indicative of the epicardial injury current of acute ischemia, the ECGs had to fulfill either the criteria of a consensus document from the American College of Cardiology or the European Society of Cardiology or thresholds for the inverted leads based on a population study from Scotland.

Results

The addition of −V1, −V2, −V3, −aVL, −I, aVR, and −III increased sensitivity from 61% to 78% (P ≤ .01) and decreased specificity from 96% to 93% (P = .06).

Conclusions

Addition of 7 leads from the 24-lead ECG, thus creating a 19-lead ECG, was found optimal for attaining high sensitivity while retaining high specificity when compared with the performance of the standard 12-lead ECG.     

Reconstruction of standard 12-lead electrocardiograms from 12-lead electrocardiograms recorded with the Mason-Likar electrode configuration

Electrocardiograms (ECGs) made with Mason-Likar electrode configuration (ML-ECGs) show well-known differences from standard 12-lead ECGs (Std-ECGs). We recorded, simultaneously, Std-ECGs and ML-ECGs in 180 subjects. Using these ECGs, 8 × 8 individual and general conversion matrices were created by linear regression, and standard ECGs were reconstructed from ML-ECGs using these matrices. The performance of the matrices was assessed by the root mean square differences between the original Std-ECGs and the reconstructed standard ECGs, by the differences in major ECG parameters, and by comparison of computer-generated diagnostic statements. As a result, we conclude that, based on the root mean square differences, reconstructions with 8 × 8 individual matrices perform significantly better than reconstructions with the group matrix and perform equally well with respect to the calculation of major electrocardiographic parameters, which gives an improved reliability of the QRS frontal axis and the maximal QRS and T amplitudes. Both types of matrices were able to reverse the underdiagnosis of inferior myocardial infarctions and the erroneous statements about the QRS frontal axis that arose in the ECGs that were made by using the Mason-Likar electrode positions.     

Cellular video-phone assisted transmission and interpretation of prehospital 12-lead electrocardiogram in acute st-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Prehospital 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) reduces the time to reperfusion in acute ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the reliability of using cellular video‐phone (VP) assisted interpretation of ECG is unknown. Methods: We studied the interphysician reliability in interpreting the ECG assisted with VP compared to print ECG interpretation. Twenty‐seven physicians prospectively interpreted the ECG transmitted from the field in real‐time using VP and later using the same printed ECG. The time to completion, accuracy of interpretation, and physician rating of the VP technology were recorded. Results: Similar high interphysician reliability was observed with both VP assisted and printed ECG interpretation including presence of ST‐segment elevation (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]= 0.98 [95% CI 0.96–1] vs. 0.99 [95% CI 0.99–1]) and pathologic Q wave (ICC = 0.99 [95% CI 0.98–1] vs. 1 [95% CI 1]), respectively. The mean time to transmit and interpret the ECG with VP versus printed ECG was 3.9 ± 1.9 versus 2.1 ± 0.9 minutes, respectively, P < 0.01. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best, the average rating of VP ease of use was 4.4 ± 0.5 and utility to recommend treatment was rated a 5. Conclusion: Cellular VP‐assisted transmission and interpretation in real‐time of prehospital ECG has high interphysician reliability, similar to the printed ECG interpretation. Future studies testing whether VP decreases the ischemic time and expedites the reperfusion of STEMI patients are needed. (J Interven Cardiol 2011;24:112–118)     

Predictive value of Q waves on the 12-lead electrocardiogram after reperfusion therapy for ST elevation myocardial infarction

Design

The data used for the present study were obtained as part of a clinical trial evaluating the effect of thrombus aspiration after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Setting

The study was conducted at a tertiary referral facility for primary PCI at a University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands.

Background

Prognosis after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is strongly related to infarct size.

Methods

As part of a randomized clinical trial, the first electrocardiogram (ECG) after primary PCI for STEMI was analyzed for the incidence of Q waves (>0.1 mV) on the 12-lead ECG. Infarct size was measured as area under curve (AUC) of creatine kinase (CK) and CK-myocardial band (CK-MB).

Results and Conclusion

Nine hundred thirty-three patients were included, the median number of Q waves on the postprocedural ECG was 3 (interquartile range, 1-4). The number of Q waves on the postprocedural ECG was an independent predictor of infarct size measured either as AUC of CK (P < .001) or AUC of CK-MB (P < .001) and was a significant predictor of mortality during follow-up of 14 months. In conclusion, the number of Q waves on the postprocedural 12-lead ECG after primary PCI for STEMI is a strong predictor of infarct size and long-term mortality.     

Electrocardiographic scores of severity and acuteness of myocardial ischemia predict myocardial salvage in patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background

Terminal “QRS distortion” on the electrocardiogram (ECG) (based on Sclarovsky-Birnbaum's Grades of Ischemia Score) is a sign of severe ischemia, associated with adverse cardiovascular outcome in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In addition, ECG indices of the acuteness of ischemia (based on Anderson-Wilkins Acuteness Score) indicate myocardial salvage potential. We assessed whether severe ischemia with or without acute ischemia is predictive of infarct size (IS), myocardial salvage index (MSI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in anterior versus inferior infarct locations.

High-frequency electrocardiogram as a supplement to standard 12-lead ischemia monitoring during reperfusion therapy of acute inferior myocardial infarction

Background

Resolution of ST-segment elevation in the electrocardiogram (ECG) is used as a reperfusion sign during thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction. Analysis of high-frequency QRS components (HF-QRS) might provide additional information. The study compares changes in HF-QRS (150-250 Hz) to ST-segment changes in the standard ECG during thrombolytic therapy.

Methods

Twelve patients receiving intravenous thrombolytic therapy were included. A continuous 12-lead ECG recording was acquired for 4 hours.

Results

After 1 hour of therapy, 3 patients showed ST-elevation resolution as well as an increase in HF-QRS. These changes in ST and HF-QRS occurred simultaneously. No other patient showed significant changes in ST or HF-QRS after 1 hour. After 2 and 4 hours, there was less concordance between the standard and high-frequency ECGs.

Conclusions

In patients with early ST-elevation resolution, the standard and high-frequency ECGs show similar results. Later changes are more disparate and may provide different clinical information.