The left bundle-branch block puzzle in the 2013 ST-elevation myocardial infarction guideline: from falsely declaring emergency to denying reperfusion in a high-risk population. Are the Sgarbossa Criteria ready for prime time?

Prompt and accurate identification of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the presence of left bundle-branch block (LBBB) remains difficult. The 2004 STEMI guideline recommended emergent reperfusion therapy to patients with suspected ischemia and new or presumably new LBBB. These recommendations have led to frequent false catheterization laboratory activation and inappropriate fibrinolytic therapy because most patients with suspected ischemia and new or presumably new LBBB do not have acute coronary artery occlusion on angiography.

The prognostic value of the admission and predischarge electrocardiogram in acute coronary syndromes: the GUSTO-IIb ECG Core Laboratory experience.

Background: Prior research suggests that patients may be entered into clinical trials with different electrocardiographic (ECG) findings than specified by study protocol criteria; the extent and impact of this variability in a large-scale trial have not been previously described.

Methods: We evaluated the relationship between case report form (CRF) categorization of the admission ECG and a Core Laboratory and subsequent outcome in a retrospective analysis of a trial of patients with acute ischemia and a broad spectrum of ECG changes (the GUSTO-IIb trial).

Results: In 11,037 patients with CRF information and an interpretable ECG, there was agreement in 89.

Prognostic value of predischarge electrocardiographic measurement of infarct size after thrombolysis: insights from GUSTO I Economics and Quality of Life substudy.

Background: Current methods for risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction (MI) include several noninvasive studies. In this cost-containment era, the development of low-cost means should be encouraged. We assessed the ability of an electrocardiogram (ECG) MI-sizing score to predict outcomes in patients enrolled in the Economics and Quality of Life (EQOL) sub study of the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue plasminogen activator for Occluded coronary arteries -I (GUSTO-I) trial.

Refinement and interobserver agreement for the electrocardiographic Sclarovsky-Birnbaum Ischemia Grading System.

Background: Electrocardiogram-derived grades of ischemia at the time of patient presentation with acute myocardial infarction have proved useful in predicting the salvageability by reperfusion therapy, final infarct size, severity of left ventricular dysfunction, and short- and long-term prognosis.

Subjects And Methods: The Sclarovsky-Birnbaum Ischemia Grading System based on the relation between the acute appearances of the T wave, the ST segment, and the QRS complex was considered as a means of enhanced ECG analysis in this group of patients. The evaluation of a training population (n = 46) resulted in refinement of the published description of the Sclarovsky-Birnbaum Ischemia Grading System, and a test population (n = 50) was utilized for investigating the interobserver agreement among 5 observers in determining the grade of ischemia.

Twelve-lead electrocardiogram: the advantages of an orderly frontal lead display including lead -aVR.

Background: It is possible that efforts in ECG review by both young experienced clinicians are currently discouraged-and risk to be completely dismissed-by the conventional (ie, disorderly) display of the frontal plane leads, with lead aVR at -150 degrees.

Methods: We reviewed studies on the usefulness of leads aVR and -aVR as well as on the history of the frontal leads in electrocardiography.

Results: Lead aVR and particularly, lead -aVR, provide useful information when systematically analyzed.

Predictors and clinical impact of atrial fibrillation after pacemaker implantation in elderly patients treated with dual chamber versus ventricular pacing.

The Pacemaker Selection in the Elderly (PASE) trial was a prospective, multicenter, single blind, randomized comparison of single chamber, rate adaptive, ventricular pacing (VVIR) with dual chamber, rate adaptive pacing (DDDR) in 407 patients aged > or =65 years(mean 76 +/- 7 years, 60% male)with standard bradycardia indications for dual chamber pacemaker implantation. The incidence, predictors, and clinical consequences of atrial fibrillation (AF) developing after pacemaker implantation in the PASE trial were studied prospectively. During a median follow-up of 18 months, AF developed in 73 (18%) patients.

Grade III ischemia on presentation with acute myocardial infarction predicts rapid progression of necrosis and less myocardial salvage with thrombolysis.

We assessed the relation between baseline electrocardiographic ischemia grades and initial myocardial area at risk (AR) and final infarct size (IS) in 49 patients who had undergone (99m)Tc sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography before and 6 +/- 1 days after thrombolysis. Patients were classed as having grade III ischemia (ST segment elevation with terminal QRS distortion, n = 19) or grade II ischemia (ST elevation but no terminal QRS distortion, n = 30). We compared AR and IS by baseline ischemia grade and treatment (adenosine vs.