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Diagnostic Traps—Noteworthy Electrocardiogram Patterns

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A patient in their 40s was transported to the emergency department by ambulance for sudden acute chest pain that had been present for 1 hour. The patient did not have dyspnea or history of cardiac disease. The electrocardiogram (ECG) obtained in the ambulance is shown in the Figure, A. In the ambulance, the patient received nitroglycerin intravenously. On arrival, the patient’s temperature was 36.4 °C, heart rate was 76 beats/min, and blood pressure was 90/56 mm Hg. Jugular distention was visible. No crackles were auscultated in the lungs. The initial serum troponin I and D-dimer levels were 0.03 ng/mL (normal range, ≤0.05 ng/mL; to convert to µg/L, multiply by 1.0) and 0.32 μg/mL (normal range, 0-0.55 μg/mL; to convert to nmol/L, multiply by 5.476), respectively. Peripheral oxygen saturation was 97% on room air. In the emergency department, a right ventricular and posterior wall ECG was obtained (Figure, B). Transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe global systolic dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV) with akinesia of the RV free wall and normal left ventricular systolic function.

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Unlike the research on left ventricular myocardial infarction (MI), studies focusing on IRVMI as a separate entity began relatively late (in 1974). It occurs in fewer than 3% of all patients with MI, and its diagnosis may be challenging.1 The most common culprit lesions causing IRVMI include occlusion of nondominant RCA or the occlusion of RV branch or RV marginal branch of RCA because these vessels supply the RV free wall. Clinical presentation of IRVMI may be very distinct. The classic triad consists of hypotension, clear lung fields, and raised jugular venous pressure.2 The ECG plays an important role in establishing the diagnosis. There are 2 main ECG patterns of IRVMI.

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Article Information

Corresponding Author: Chuan-Hai Zhang, MD, Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Renmin St, Liaoning, Jinzhou 121000, China (zch8598145@yeah.net).

Published Online: May 31, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.1925

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

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