Myocardial infarction with normal electrocardiogram
Bouchiat, C.; Talard, P.; Mafart, B.Y.; Carli, P.; Dussarat, G.V.
Annales de Cardiologie et D'angeiologie 40(7): 423-426
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-3928 PMID: 1952773 Document Number: 387585
These two cases concern myocardial infarcts where the electrocardiogram (ECG) was within normal limits at admission and throughout the period of hospitalization, the diagnosis of an infarct being made secondarily on the basis of raised CPK. Both cases involved infarcts limited to the lateral wall due to occlusion of the first marginal artery of the left border. Several recent studies have evaluated the diagnostic value of the ECG in infarcts and have shown its lack of sensitivity in lateral infarcts. The resultant diagnostic difficulties may lead to delayed treatment, the consequences of which should not be capital since it has been shown that infarcts with a normal or minimally abnormal ECG at the time of admission have a favourable short term prognosis.