Recognizing Wellens' syndrome, a warning sign of critical proximal LAD artery stenosis and impending anterior myocardial infarction.
Wellens' syndrome, also known as LAD coronary T-wave syndrome or the 'widow maker', is a pre-infarction syndrome with non-classical ischemic ECG changes and unremarkable cardiac biomarkers. This syndrome continues to be a 'can't miss' for the clinician as delay in urgent angiography and intervention can result in anterior myocardial infarction, left ventricular dysfunction, arrhythmias, and death. We describe a case followed by a discussion of identification criteria and clinical implications.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee/St Thomas Health, Nashville, TN, USA.
Laura
L
Hollar
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee/St Thomas Health, Nashville, TN, USA.
Owen
O
Hartness
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee/St Thomas Health, Nashville, TN, USA; tracey.doering@sth.org.
Tracey
T
Doering
Ischemia; T-wave; Wellen; anterior myocardial infarction; electrocardiogram; left anterior descending artery