• Miguel Fiol, Andrés Carrillo, Iwona Cygankiewicz, Julio Velasco, Maria Riera, Antoni Bayés-Genis, Alfredo Gómez, Vicente Peral, Armando Bethencourt, Diego Goldwasser, Fredis Molina, and Antoni Bayés de Luna.
• Son Dureta University Hospital and University Institute for Investigation on Health Sciences, Coronary and Critical Care Unit, Barcelona. mfiol@hotmail.com
• Clin Cardiol. 2009 Nov 1;32(11):E1-6.

BackgroundEarly prediction of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion is essential from a clinical point of viewHypothesisTo develop an electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithm based on ST-segment deviations to predict the location of occlusion of LAD as a culprit artery.MethodsECG and angiographic findings were correlated in 100 patients with an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) in precordial leads V(1), V(2), and V(4) through V(6).ResultsST-depression > or = 2.5 mm in leads III + ventricular fibrillation (VF) presents sensitivity (SE) of 77% and specificity (SP) of 84% for LAD occlusion proximal to the first diagonal artery (D1). ST-segment in III + VF isoelectric or elevated, presents SE of 44% and SP of 100% for LAD occlusion distal to D1. Subsequent analysis of the equation summation operator of ST-deviation in VR + V(1) - V(6) < 0, allows us to predict occlusion distal to first septal artery (S1) with 100% SP. On the other hand, any ST-depression in III + VF > 0.5 mm + summation operator of ST-deviation in VR + V(1) - V(6) > or = 0 identifies a high-risk group (lower ejection fraction, worse Killip findings, higher peak of CPK and CK-MB, and major adverse cardiac events [MACE]: death, reinfarction, recurrent angina, persistent left ventricular failure, or sustained ventricular arrhythmia during hospitalization).ConclusionsThis sequential ECG algorithm based on ST-segment deviations in different leads allowed us to predict the location of occlusion in LAD with good accuracy. Cases with proximal LAD occlusion present the most markers of poor prognosis. We recommend the use of the algorithm in everyday clinical practice.

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