ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Part I Diagnosis: A Case Study Approach

Abstract

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common disease diagnosis in industrialized society, with approximately 650,000 patients with new AMI and 450,000 experiencing a recurrent AMI each year in the United States. This diagnosis continues to carry a significant mortality rate, particularly in elderly males. This first of two articles presents a case study of an elderly patient who, after coronary intervention, develops a ST elevation myocardial infarction. The significance of interpreting the physical and diagnostic data in diagnosing the event is discussed along with the related pathophysiology. Treatment will be discussed in a subsequent article.