ST Segment Elevation with Normal Coronaries
Pooja Sethi1, Ghulam Murtaza2, Ashwini Sharma3
1Department of Cardiology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37604, USA.
Insights
Noncardiac conditions, such as acute pancreatitis, can mimic heart attacks by causing ST elevation on EKGs. Promptly ruling out cardiac events allows for diagnosis and treatment of these abdominal pathologies, resolving EKG abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- ST elevation on electrocardiograms (EKGs) typically indicates acute myocardial infarction.
- Noncardiac conditions can rarely present with ST elevation, complicating diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight abdominal pathologies as a differential diagnosis for ST elevation on EKG.
- To emphasize the importance of considering noncardiac causes when ST elevation is observed.
Main Methods:
- Case review and literature synthesis.
- Differential diagnosis of ST elevation on EKG.
Main Results:
- Abdominal pathologies, specifically acute pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis, can manifest as ST elevation in the inferior leads.
- Resolution of EKG changes occurs upon successful treatment of the underlying abdominal condition.
Conclusions:
- Noncardiac etiologies, particularly abdominal pathologies, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of ST elevation.
- Prompt identification and management of conditions like acute pancreatitis can resolve electrocardiographic abnormalities.
Abstract:
Noncardiac causes should be kept in the differential while evaluating ST elevation on EKG. Rarely abdominal pathologies like acute pancreatitis can present with ST elevation in the inferior leads. Once acute coronary syndrome is ruled out by emergent cardiac catheterization alternative diagnosis should be sorted. Abdominal pathologies, like acute pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis, can present with ST elevation in the inferior leads. Treating the underlying condition would result in resolution of these EKG changes.
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