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Dr. de Saint Victor (AKA dSV), our local ECG expert, makes use of spaced repetition to help us remember the many causes of ST elevation. As a standing segment of all of his lectures, this stood out to us as the perfect first educational post:

 

Causes ST elevation:

•Usual suspects

       -STEMI

       -Vasospasm

       -Pericarditis/myocarditis

       -Benign early repolarization

•Lefties and Righties

       -Left bundle branch block

       -Left ventricular aneurysm

       -Left ventricular hypertrophy

       -Pulmonary embolism, right heart strain

•H's

       -Hyperkalemia

       -Hypercalcemia

       -Hypothermia

       -Na+ cHannelopathies

•Names

       -Brugada syndrome

       -Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

•Disasters (Spiked helmet sign*)

       -Intracranial abnormalities

       -Post-cardioversion/post-epinephrine

       -Aortic dissection

       -Massive GI bleed

 

 

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*Spiked helmet sign can be seen in severe noncardiac illness

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Other resources to check out:

1. "The ST Segment" by E Burns. Life in the Fast Lane: https://litfl.com/st-segment-ecg-library/

 

References

1. Littmann L, Monroe MH. The “Spiked Helmet” Sign: A New Electrocardiographic Marker of Critical Illness and High Risk of Death. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2011;86(12):1245-1246. doi:10.4065/mcp.2011.0647