High Risk Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction - A Case Report

Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Electrocardiogram (ECG) remains an important tool in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and further risk stratification. ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a medical emergency requiring early diagnosis and prompt reperfusion of occluded coronary artery to prevent morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have shown that a subset of patients with acute MI in the absence of ST segment elevation (non-ST elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]) have an acute occlusion of the culprit artery on coronary angiography. The Aslanger’s pattern is a specific ECG finding in acute inferior myocardial infarction with multivessel disease. It allows identification of inferior wall myocardial infarction that does not show ST elevation in contiguous leads but needs rapid evaluation by coronary angiogram and revascularization. We presented a case of acute coronary syndrome whose ECG showed Aslanger’s pattern and was confirmed to have significant stenosis of the left main coronary artery and right coronary artery (RCA) by coronary angiogram. STEMI criteria of ST elevation involving two contiguous leads may not be sufficient in diagnosing critical coronary artery occlusions in clinical practice. Keywords: Acute Myocardial Infarction; Aslanger’s Pattern; ST-Elevation; NSTEMI