Time-critical AMI Detection: A novel and fast technique using the 12-lead ECG

Abstract

Objective: To postulates a quick and relatively easy way to quantify the mass of viable myocardium in patients presenting with acute chest pain in the emergency department (ED). Methods: The area under the QRS complex of a patient's ECG was postulated to be proportional to the amount of viable myocardium. If a patient suffers a myocardial infarction and the myocardium loses its viability (i.e. the ability to fire or depolarise and repolarise), the area under the QRS complex was reduced. Results: By integrating the QRS complex of the ECG to obtain the area under the QRS complex, quantification of the mass of viable myocardium is carried out. The difference in size between the area before and after a patient has an acute coronary event, obtained from identical leads on both occasions, may advantageously show change in the mass of viable myocardium in the patient's heart. Conclusions: This is a new method we are postulating and proofing the concept in this paper.

Keywords

• Myocardial infarction
• Ischemia
• QRS complex
• Electrocardiography
• Chest pain
• Myocardial viability