Friday, 12 February 2010

50 yom (Asian) CC: left-sided chest and arm pain/weakness.

Is this patient having an Acute Myocardial Infarction at this present time or did he have the infarct 2 weeks ago when the patient first had central chest pain?

This is an interesting case... The story here is:... an good friend and colleague of my recently got a call for a immediate transfer from one hospital to another to take a patient for PCI... My colleague was stuck in the middle of 3 consultant cardiologist's aurguing whether the patient was having an AMI at the present time or is the ECG changes from 2 weeks ago when the patient actually had the first chest pain.

Outcome was 2 cardiologists decided that the patient was having an AMI now, and the 3rd cardiologist thoughts were these events are from when the patient first infarcted 2 weeks ago. In the end the outcome was they decided NOT to PCI this patient.

Sorry I have not much clinical information on this patient whether he has any cardiac history, I understand the patient's english was very poor... Observation's were recorded as follows:

HR: 89
BP: 110/69
SPO2: 99% O2
RR: 22
SKIN: No details: just my colleague stated that this patient did not present like he was having a AMI.

No other info on this patient regarding blood results...etc.

My Questions are:

1) What your opinion on this case study?

2) After looking at these ECG's, do you think present events or is the infarct 2 weeks old?

3) Would you PCI ?

4) Give evidence and your reasons from the features on the 12 lead ECG, whether this is 2 weeks old or AMI?



Lead II taken from the rhythm strip

Hospital captured 12 Lead ECG 

This is a interesting case to hear from cardiologists with their opinions on this case study, or any other health care professional's sharing their views... Look forward to all your comments...:-)

2 comments:

  1. Aside from the fact that there are Q-waves in leads V1-V4, it looks very acute to me! The ST-elevation in leads II, V2, V3, and V4 are between 0.75 and 1.00 the depth of the QRS complex! Ugly ECGs.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Depending on the patient's risk factors, they can have a risk of reinfarcting from 2% to 41% in the first 6 months, with most of that risk demonstrated in the first 30 days.

    I think all three doctors may be right... or the first time could have been a plaque rupture but this time there is an acute thrombosis.

    ReplyDelete