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Clinical Review

ABC of clinical electrocardiography: Acute myocardial infarction—Part I

BMJ 2002; 324 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.324.7341.831 (Published 06 April 2002) Cite this as: BMJ 2002;324:831
  1. Francis Morris,
  2. William J Brady

In the clinical assessment of chest pain, electrocardiography is an essential adjunct to the clinical history and physical examination. A rapid and accurate diagnosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction is vital, as expeditious reperfusion therapy can improve prognosis. The most frequently used electrocardiographic criterion for identifying acute myocardial infarction is ST segment elevation in two or more anatomically contiguous leads. The ST segment elevation associated with an evolving myocardial infarction is often readily identifiable, but a knowledge of the common “pseudo” infarct patterns is essential to avoid the unnecessary use of thrombolytic treatment.

Indications for thrombolytic treatment

  • ST elevation >1 mm in two contiguous limb leads or >2 mm in two contiguous chest leads

  • Posterior myocardial infarction

  • Left bundle branch block

ST segment depression or enzymatic change are not indications for thrombolytic treatment


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Sequence of changes seen during evolution of myocardial infarction

In the early stages of acute myocardial infarction the electrocardiogram may be normal or near normal; less than half of patients with acute myocardial infarction have clear diagnostic changes on their first trace. About 10% of patients with a proved acute myocardial infarction (on the basis of clinical history and enzymatic markers) fail to develop ST segment elevation or depression. In most cases, however, serial electrocardiograms show evolving changes that tend to follow well recognised patterns.

Hyperacute T waves

The earliest signs of acute myocardial infarction are subtle and include increased T wave amplitude over the affected area. T waves become more prominent, symmetrical, and pointed (“hyperacute”). Hyperacute T waves are most evident in the anterior chest leads and are more readily visible when an old electrocardiogram is available for comparison. These changes in T waves are usually present for only five to 30 minutes after the onset of the infarction and are followed by ST segment changes.


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Hyperacute T waves

ST segment changes

In practice, ST …

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