ST elevation in aVL with reciprocal ST depression in the inferior leads

What is your interpretation?

What do you think about the ST elevation in aVL with reciprocal depression in the inferior leads???









The ECG is instantly diagnostic of hyperkalemia. There is likely sinus rhythm, with mildly widened QRS, peaked T-waves, and characteristic ST-segment morphology which slopes upward and begins to blend into the peaked T-wave (best seen in V4-V6). There is ST elevation in aVL, V1, and V2, with ST depression in V3-V6, and II, III, aVF.

As we have shown numerous times on this blog, hyperkalemia often may cause dramatic ST-segment deviations which may mimic STEMI (which is a poor surrogate for acute coronary occlusion).

See this case for an example

We have also shown cases where there has been simultaneous hyperkalemia and acute coronary occlusion, however in this case it would be appropriate to treat with calcium (and the other hyperkalemia treatments) to see if the ST elevation resolves. If the hyperkalemia on the ECG is resolved but the ST segment abnormalities remain, then one must reevaluate the situation and the repeat ECGs for acute coronary occlusion. Fortunately this patient did not present with chest pain or another presentation concerning for ACS, or else he could have been one of many other patients with hyperkalemia and ST segment changes who gets taken to the cath lab for possible acute coronary occlusion and suffers a delay in diagnosis and treatment of hyperkalemia.

Shortly after the ECG was performed, the treating physicians commented that the patient’s heart rate began to drop, with further widening of the QRS on the monitor (no 12 lead ECG available). He was treated with calcium gluconate, followed by insulin and glucose, with immediate return to previous heart rate and QRS width.

Slightly decreased ST deviations throughout.

Initial labs included the following:
Na                 125 mEq/L
K                     8.0 mEq/L
Bicarbonate   13 mEq/L
BUN              90 mg/dL
Creatinine     10.24 mg/dL
Lactic acid      4.4 mg/dL
Troponin T     0.10 ng/mL
VBG pH         6.98
VBG PCO2    29 mm Hg

A dialysis catheter was placed for emergent dialysis. After several hours of treatment and dialysis, the repeat ECG is shown below:

All hyperkalemic findings resolved.

The patient did well.

Learning Points: 

You must be expert at recognizing hyperkalemia on ECG, and differentiating hyperkalemia from acute coronary occlusion.

Hyperkalemia may cause dramatic ST segment changes which may mimic acute coronary occlusion.