From the Guidelines
The early infarct sign is typically characterized by ST-segment elevation in acute myocardial infarction, measured at the J point, which should be found in two contiguous leads and be ≥0.25 mV in men below the age of 40 years, or ≥0.2 mV in men over the age of 40 years, or ≥0.15 mV in women in leads V2–V3 and/or ≥0.1 mV in other leads. This is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which provides guidelines for the management of acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation 1. Some key points to consider when diagnosing early infarct signs include:
- A 12-lead ECG should be obtained and interpreted as soon as possible at the point of first medical contact
- ECG monitoring should be initiated as soon as possible in all patients with suspected STEMI to detect life-threatening arrhythmias and allow prompt defibrillation if indicated
- In patients with inferior myocardial infarction, it is advisable to record right precordial leads seeking ST elevation, in order to identify concomitant right ventricular infarction
- The ECG diagnosis may be more difficult in some cases, such as in the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB), but marked ST abnormalities can often indicate ongoing myocardial infarction with an occluded infarct artery 1. It is essential to recognize these early infarct signs to provide timely and appropriate management, including reperfusion therapy, which can significantly improve outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
From the Research
Early Infarct Sign
There are no research papers to assist in answering this question. The provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 do not mention the early infarct sign.
- The studies focus on various aspects of myocardial infarction and stroke, including treatment, prevention, and management.
- They discuss the importance of early intervention, treatment strategies, and factors associated with early hospital arrival in acute ischemic stroke patients.
- However, none of the studies provide information on the early infarct sign.