title: [Electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the aera of primary percutaneous coronary intervention and hub and spoke networks].
abstract: More than a century after it was invented, standard ECG is enjoying a renaissance of sorts. With regard to acute ischemic heart disease, this phenomenon is due mainly to the availability of large databases that in an ordered and predefined manner collect patient ECG patterns along side their clinical and coronary angiography details as well as outcome data. The present review critically analyses the diagnostic role of standard ECG in acute coronary syndromes with or without ST-segment elevation (STEMI and NSTEMI, respectively) and focuses on interpretation pitfalls and patterns that can contribute to therapeutic decision-making. In front of a patient with a clinical presentation suggestive of acute myocardial infarction the ECG can help answer many questions. In case a STEMI is suspected: are we sure we can exclude an infarction? (the problem of false negatives); are we sure it is a real infarction and not a false positive? Which is the obstructed coronary artery and at what level? Has there been reperfusion? In case an NSTEMI is suspected: are we sure it is a real myocardial infarction, rather than a pulmonary embolism or an aortic dissection? Are we sure it is NSTEMI rather than a "masked" dorsal STEMI? Which coronary substrate and what ischemia extension can we hypothesize in this patient? In particular, is the substrate of such high risk suggesting an emergency invasive approach?
authors.affiliation: U.O. di Cardiologia, Ospedale di Bentivoglio (BO). e.perugini@ausl.bo.it
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perugini
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Diodoro
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pallotti
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gallelli
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scaramuzzino
authors.forename: Leonardo G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Pancaldi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rapezzi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Pasquale
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004630:Emergencies; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome