Compare
STEMI vs pericarditis
| Dimension | STEMI | Pericarditis |
|---|---|---|
| ST elevation shape | Convex or straight, territorial | Concave, diffuse across territories |
| Reciprocal depression | Present, and confirmatory | Absent (except aVR and V1) |
| PR segment | Usually neutral | Depressed, elevated in aVR |
| Pain | Pressure, exertional coloring | Sharp, pleuritic, positional (better leaning forward) |
| Stakes of the error | Missed reperfusion | Thrombolytics given to a pericardium: hemorrhage risk |
Pearls
- Reciprocal changes are the single most useful discriminator.
- Age, risk factors, and the pain's character vote alongside the tracing.
Connected