Cardiology

Detecting and treating myocardial ischemia using ST trend analysis

Jouko Laurila, M.D.and Tero Ala-Kokko, M.D.
Oulu University Hospital, Dept. of Anesthesiology, ICU
Oulu, FIN 90220, FINLAND

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Case History

An 81-year old male with recent myocardial infarction came to the hospital with ischemic pulmonary edema and acute abdominal symptoms.

A laparatomy was performed due to volvulus of the sigma.

Postoperatively he was admitted to the ICU with septic shock requiring dobutamine and noradrenaline infusions.

Special findings

Kindly see the figure, yellow dots in the lowermost graph indicate measured PCWP values, white bars show cardiac output in L/min. During the first ICU evening, a rise in PCWP up to 20-28 mmHg together with marked ischemic changes on the ECG tracing were noted. The ST trend (in the middle of the figure) demonstrates clear 1-2 mm ST elevation and there is also ST depression in the reciprocal ECG leads.

Conclusions

The above trend changes are a clear signs of myocardial ischemia, and the rapid response achieved with a nitroglycerine infusion.

In this case, monitoring ST segment trends made rapid detection of myocardial ischemia possible.

Last updated: 1 September 2001Created
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