Identification of Coronary Culprit Lesion in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction by Using Deep Learning

Li-Ming Tseng1,2,3, Cheng-Yen Chuang4, Su-Kiat Chua4,3

  • 1Department of Emergency MedicineShin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital Taipei 11101 Taiwan.

Insights

Deep learning accurately identifies culprit coronary arteries in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients using electrocardiograms (ECGs). Continuous wavelet transform (CWT) preprocessing improved accuracy over short-time Fourier transform (STFT).

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) requires prompt identification of the infarct-related coronary artery.
  • Current methods rely on electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation, which can be challenging.
  • Accurate culprit artery identification is crucial for timely and effective revascularization, reducing mortality and morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate a deep learning model for more accurate prediction of culprit coronary arteries in STEMI patients.
  • To compare the efficacy of different ECG signal preprocessing techniques, specifically short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and continuous wavelet transform (CWT), within a deep learning framework.

Main Methods:

  • A convolutional neural network (CNN) deep learning model was trained using ECG signals from 384 STEMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  • ECG signals were preprocessed using STFT and CWT (Morlet wavelet) with varying input lengths.
  • Model performance was assessed by evaluating sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy for predicting the infarct-related artery (LAD, LCX, RCA).

Main Results:

  • STFT preprocessing yielded an overall accuracy of 79.3%.
  • CWT preprocessing achieved a higher overall accuracy of 83.7%.
  • CWT demonstrated superior sensitivity and specificity for predicting all three major coronary arteries (LAD, LCX, RCA) compared to STFT.

Conclusions:

  • Deep learning, utilizing CNNs, can significantly aid in identifying the culprit coronary artery in STEMI patients.
  • Continuous wavelet transform (CWT) is a more effective ECG signal preprocessing method than STFT for this deep learning application.
  • This approach holds promise for improving the diagnostic accuracy and guiding treatment decisions in STEMI management.
Abstract