Acute myocardial infarction and the 12-lead ECG

It is important that critical care nurses are able to identify the location of cardiac muscle ischemia, injury, and infarction on the electrocardiogram. Knowing the site of infarction is essential in anticipating clinical manifestations and, therefore, has implications for the patient's plan of care. This article includes an overview of four sites of infarction: inferior, posterior, anterior, and lateral. The coronary artery source of each, as well as the ECG findings and clinical signs and symptoms are discussed.