Diagnostic Accuracy of Electrocardiogram for Acute Coronary Occlusion Resulting in Myocardial Infarction

The decision of emergency reperfusion of a suspected acute coronary artery occlusion by means of percutaneous coronary intervention or intravenous thrombolytics depends on the presence of a certain amount of ST-segment elevation in the electrocardiogram (ECG) as recommended by international guidelines. However, recommended ST-segment elevation cut-off values for acute coronary occlusion diagnosis are highly insensitive, and their evidence base is weak. The objective of this study is to test the accuracy of various electrocardiographic patterns (including, but not limited to, ST-segment elevation) for the diagnosis of acute coronary occlusion. This information can serve to offer an accuracy profile for various ECG findings and enable clinicians to define the ECG probability of an acute coronary occlusion according to these ECG findings and clinical picture, which in turn would provide a significant improvement in the care for patients who present to the hospital with possible coronary occlusion. The primary analysis will be designed as a single-center, retrospective case-control study.