Acute inferior myocardial infarction

See brief interpretation of 12 lead EKG above

- ST segment elevation (≥ 0.1 mV) in lead II, III and aVF (inferior leads)
- pathological Q waves formation in inferior leads
- reciprocal ST segment depression in lead I and aVL plus V2-V4

Acute inferior myocardial infarction is seen as ST segment elevation ≥ 0.1 mV in the inferior leads (lead II, III and aVF). At least two of the inferior leads must show ST segment elevation.

Reciprocal ST segment depression may be present in lead I and aVL or in the precordial leads.

Note that right ventricular infarction is present in up to 40% of inferior myocardial infarctions. The treatment of right ventricular infarction differs from that of left ventricular infarction. Right ventricular infarction must always be suspected in the presence of inferior myocardial infarction.

The coronary artery involved in inferior myocardial infarction may be either the right coronary artery (RCA, most often) or the circumflex artery (Cx).

– Mathias