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"Inferior" ST depression: What is the diagnosis?

Posted Apr 26 2011 11:55pm
This 58 year old man presented at noon with chest pain that began the previous evening and became constant less than one hour prior. 

Now there is still sinus rhythm but with 2 PVCs.  There is subtle ST depression in "inferior" leads II and aVF. This should always alert to ST elevation in the opposite, high lateral, leads especially aVL.  Looking at aVL, there is indeed subtle ST elevation and also in lead I.
Here is the previous ECG for comparisonThis baseline ECG is normal


Subendocardial ischemia may have ST segment depression, but it does not reliably localized to any wall.  "Inferior" ST depression is really reciprocal to high lateral ST elevation.


Here is a followup ECG 42 hours later:
ST segments have normalized.  There are now "reperfusion" T-waves (inverted) in I and aVL, verifying a high lateral MI

1) ST depression in III and aVF should be assumed to be reciprocal to high lateral ST elevation
2) This ST depression may be the most visually arresting part of the ECG

Here you can find other similar cases http://hqmeded-ecg.blogspot.com/2010/08/35-yo-woman-with-lad-occlusion.html

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