Discussion on identification of culprit vessel or infarct artery localization. Have a look at this ECG and the associated angiogram. The ECG shows ST segment elevation in leads II, III and aVF of about 3mm. ST segment depression is seen in leads I, aVL and V1 to V5. Overall features are suggestive of hyperacute phase of inferior wall myocardial infarction with “reciprocal” ST segment depression in anterior leads. Left coronary angiogram shows total occlusion of distal left circumflex coronary artery with absent dye filling in a short segment (black arrow). Multiple significant lesions are seen in left anterior descending coronary artery (blue arrows). Significant lesions are also seen in the obtuse marginal branch of the left circumflex coronary artery (yellow arrows). The culprit lesion which has caused the infarction in this case is possibly the left circumflex occlusion. Generally, the ST elevation is more in lead III in right coronary occlusion while it is more in lead II in left circumflex occlusion. In this case, we have almost equal ST elevation in leads II and III. But the discussion does not stop there. Right coronary angiogram shows a critical lesion (black arrow) with some negative shadows distal to the lesion, suggesting thrombus. We may be tempted to believe that this is the culprit lesion which has caused the inferior wall infarction if the LCX lesion was not found. This case demonstrates a limitation of localization of culprit vessel from ECG. Here is another similar ECG. But there is mild ST elevation in V5 and V6, in addition to inferior ST elevation, which makes left circumflex lesion more likely. aVL shows minimal ST depression. So does V1 and V2. In this ECG, ST segment elevation and T wave inversion are present in II, III and aVF, the inferior leads. The ST segment is coved, and T waves are inverted in V5 and V6, the lateral leads. Minimal ST segment depression is seen in lead I and aVL, which can be taken as reciprocal to the ST segment elevation in inferior leads. There are tall R waves in V1 and V2 with R/S ratio more than 1, and ST segment depression with upright T waves. These features are suggestive of posterior wall infarction, being the inverse of Q wave, ST elevation and T wave inversion which would have been recorded in a posterior lead. There is also loss of r wave amplitude in V5, V6. Together with the changes in inferior and lateral leads, the full diagnosis is inferior, posterior, and lateral wall infarction. This combination can occur in occlusion of a dominant left circumflex coronary artery which supplies the inferior, posterior, and lateral walls of the left ventricle. The angiograms discussed in the first case had an occlusion of a dominant left circumflex coronary artery. Right coronary artery was small and non-dominant. The full extent of supply by left circumflex can only be seen after opening the occlusion. Left coronary angiogram, showing dominant left circumflex with left posterior descending artery arising from it (LPDA). Here it is a non-dominant left circumflex, and it gives only obtuse marginal branches and no LPDA. This is how a dominant RCA will look like, much larger and giving rise to posterior descending and posterior left ventricular branches. Right ventricular branches are also seen. If there is a proximal occlusion, inferior wall infarction is associated with right ventricular infarction. RV infarction manifests with ST elevation in right precordial leads. Right precordial ST elevation can also occur in anterior wall infarction due to left anterior descending artery occlusion. But in LAD occlusion, ST elevation in V2 is more than that in V1. In right ventricular infarction, more ST elevation is noted in V3R than in V1. V1 can show ST elevation in both these cases. Now what about this ECG? ECG shows sinus rhythm at around 100/min, with ST segment elevation in aVR and V1. ST depression is seen in I, II, III, aVF, V3-V5. Maximum ST depression is noted in V4 and V5 and it is down sloping. Duration of ST elevation in aVR is more than that in V1. Overall, it is likely to be due to left main coronary artery disease. Alternate option is proximal multivessel coronary stenosis. But proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis should have produced some ST elevation in V2. Here ST segment is isoelectric in V2. This is another ECG from a person with persistent anginal pain for the past several hours showing significant ST segment depression in anterolateral leads along with sinus tachycardia. ST segment elevation is noted in aVR. Such a pattern is consistent with significant left main coronary artery stenosis. Clinical evaluation and X-Ray chest showed features of pulmonary edema. Angiography done after initial stabilization with intensive medical management showed severe stenosis of distal left main coronary artery along with multiple lesions in all the three vessels.
Content
1.16 -> Discussion on identification of culprit vessel
or infarct artery localization.
7.75 -> Have a look at this ECG and the associated
angiogram. The ECG shows ST segment elevation
16.56 -> in leads II, III and aVF of about 3mm. ST
segment depression is seen in leads I, aVL
24.81 -> and V1 to V5. Overall features are suggestive
of hyperacute phase of inferior wall myocardial
32.11 -> infarction with “reciprocal” ST segment
depression in anterior leads.
38.16 -> Left coronary angiogram shows total occlusion
of distal left circumflex coronary artery
44.239 -> with absent dye filling in a short segment
(black arrow). Multiple significant lesions
50.5 -> are seen in left anterior descending coronary
artery (blue arrows). Significant lesions
56.559 -> are also seen in the obtuse marginal branch
of the left circumflex coronary artery (yellow
62.53 -> arrows).
The culprit lesion which has caused the infarction
66.3 -> in this case is possibly the left circumflex
occlusion. Generally, the ST elevation is
73.01 -> more in lead III in right coronary occlusion
while it is more in lead II in left circumflex
79.58 -> occlusion. In this case, we have almost equal
ST elevation in leads II and III.
86.99 -> But the discussion does not stop there. Right
coronary angiogram shows a critical lesion
92.46 -> (black arrow) with some negative shadows distal
to the lesion, suggesting thrombus. We may
99.43 -> be tempted to believe that this is the culprit
lesion which has caused the inferior wall
104.13 -> infarction if the LCX lesion was not found.
This case demonstrates a limitation of localization
111.99 -> of culprit vessel from ECG.
Here is another similar ECG. But there is
117.61 -> mild ST elevation in V5 and V6, in addition
to inferior ST elevation, which makes left
124.85 -> circumflex lesion more likely. aVL shows minimal
ST depression. So does V1 and V2.
132.71 -> In this ECG, ST segment elevation and T wave
inversion are present in II, III and aVF,
139.53 -> the inferior leads. The ST segment is coved,
and T waves are inverted in V5 and V6, the
146.54 -> lateral leads. Minimal ST segment depression
is seen in lead I and aVL, which can be taken
152.89 -> as reciprocal to the ST segment elevation
in inferior leads.
157.01 -> There are tall R waves in V1 and V2 with R/S
ratio more than 1, and ST segment depression
164.68 -> with upright T waves. These features are suggestive
of posterior wall infarction, being the inverse
171.22 -> of Q wave, ST elevation and T wave inversion
which would have been recorded in a posterior
177.79 -> lead.
There is also loss of r wave amplitude in
181.71 -> V5, V6. Together with the changes in inferior
and lateral leads, the full diagnosis is inferior,
188.69 -> posterior, and lateral wall infarction. This
combination can occur in occlusion of a dominant
194.44 -> left circumflex coronary artery which supplies
the inferior, posterior, and lateral walls
199.9 -> of the left ventricle.
The angiograms discussed in the first case
204.069 -> had an occlusion of a dominant left circumflex
coronary artery. Right coronary artery was
209.43 -> small and non-dominant. The full extent of
supply by left circumflex can only be seen
216.63 -> after opening the occlusion.
Left coronary angiogram, showing dominant
221.82 -> left circumflex with left posterior descending
artery arising from it (LPDA).
227.33 -> Here it is a non-dominant left circumflex,
and it gives only obtuse marginal branches
234.19 -> and no LPDA.
This is how a dominant RCA will look like,
239.53 -> much larger and giving rise to posterior descending
and posterior left ventricular branches. Right
245.821 -> ventricular branches are also seen. If there
is a proximal occlusion, inferior wall infarction
251.87 -> is associated with right ventricular infarction.
RV infarction manifests with ST elevation
258.669 -> in right precordial leads.
Right precordial ST elevation can also occur
263.69 -> in anterior wall infarction due to left anterior
descending artery occlusion. But in LAD occlusion,
272.49 -> ST elevation in V2 is more than that in V1.
In right ventricular infarction, more ST elevation
279.15 -> is noted in V3R than in V1. V1 can show ST
elevation in both these cases.
286.34 -> Now what about this ECG? ECG shows sinus rhythm
at around 100/min, with ST segment elevation
293.98 -> in aVR and V1. ST depression is seen in I,
II, III, aVF, V3-V5. Maximum ST depression
302.96 -> is noted in V4 and V5 and it is down sloping.
Duration of ST elevation in aVR is more than
310.38 -> that in V1.
Overall, it is likely to be due to left main
