1/3. Electrocardiographic T-wave inversion: differential diagnosis in the chest pain patient.Inverted T waves produced by myocardial ischemia are classically narrow and symmetric. T-wave inversion (TWI) associated with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is morphologically characterized by an isoelectric ST segment that is usually bowed upward (ie, concave) and followed by a sharp symmetric downstroke. The terms coronary T wave and coved T wave have been used to describe these ischemic TWIs. Prominent, deeply inverted, and widely splayed T waves are more characteristic of non-ACS conditions such as juvenile T-wave patterns, left ventricular hypertrophy, acute myocarditis, wolff-parkinson-white syndrome, acute pulmonary embolism, cerebrovascular accident, bundle branch block, and later stages of pericarditis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = chest pain, chest (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Intermittent noninfarction Q waves: a finding suggestive of latent preexcitation.OBJECTIVE: To describe 3 patients who presented with chest pain and intermittent Q waves on the electrocardiogram (ECG) and were subsequently found to have latent preexcitation. patients AND methods: During a span of 8 years, 3 patients were evaluated because of atypical chest pain and pathologic Q waves in the inferior leads; in all 3 patients, the Q waves were intermittent. No patient had a history of arrhythmia or had Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern on the ECG. Diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for suspected myocardial infarction included cardiac catheterization in 2 patients, intravenous thrombolytic therapy in 1 patient, and heparin in 2 patients. Ischemic heart disease was excluded in all. patients underwent pharmacological testing and/or electrophysiologic study for suspected preexcitation. RESULTS: Despite the absence of ECG markers of preexcitation, the presence of a latent accessory atrioventricular connection was confirmed in each patient by pharmacological or electrophysiologic studies. CONCLUSION: In patients who present with intermittent noninfarction Q waves, the most likely diagnosis is latent preexcitation. Clinicians need to be educated about this clinical diagnosis and encouraged to pursue confirmatory testing. Such patients should be informed about the nature and importance of their electrocardiographic abnormality.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = chest pain, chest (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. Benign early repolarization: electrocardiographic manifestations and differentiation from other ST segment elevation syndromes.Early repolarization, also known as benign early repolarization (BER) or normal variant, is noted in approximately 1% of the population and in up to 48% of patients seen in the emergency department with chest pain. BER represents a benign variant of the normal electrocardiogram and is one of several syndromes producing electrocardiographic ST segment elevation. BER electrocardiographically includes diffuse or widespread ST segment elevation, upward concavity of the initial portion of the ST segment, notching or slurring of the terminal QRS complex, and concordant T waves of large amplitude. This article focuses on BER and includes a discussion of the electrocardiographic tools useful in making this diagnosis and in distinguishing BER from other ST segment elevation syndromes.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = chest pain, chest (Clic here for more details about this article) |