Sgarbossa Criteria

http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ecg-library/basics/sgarbossa/

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http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ecg-library/basics/sgarbossa/

Sgarbossa Criteria
Background
In patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) or ventricular paced rhythm, infarct diagnosis based on the ECG is difficult. The baseline ST segments and T waves tend to be shifted in a discordant direction (appropriate discordance), which can mask or mimic acute myocardial infarction. However, serial ECGs may show dynamic ST segment changes during ischemia. A new LBBB is always pathological and can be a sign of myocardial infarction.

Electrocardiographic Criteria
The three criteria used to diagnose infarction in patients with LBBB are:

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Sgarbossa Criteria

http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ecg-library/basics/sgarbossa/

Concordant ST elevation > 1mm in leads with a positive QRS complex (score 5) Concordant ST depression > 1 mm in V1-V3 (score 3) Excessively discordant ST elevation > 5 mm in leads with a negative QRS complex (score 2). This criterium is sensitive, but not specific for ischemia in LBBB. It is however associated with a worse prognosis, when present in LBBB during ischemia.

A total score of 3 has a specificity of 90% for diagnosing myocardial infarction.

During right ventricular pacing the ECG also shows left bundle brach block and the above rules also apply for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction during pacing, however they are less specific. In the GUSTO-1 trial the ECG criterion with a high specificity and statistical significance for the diagnosis of an acute MI was: Excessively discordant ST segment elevation 5 mm (in leads with a negative QRS complex). Two other criteria with acceptable specificity were: Concordant ST elevation 1 mm in leads with positive QRS Concordant ST depression 1 mm in leads V1, V2, or, V3
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Sgarbossa Criteria

http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ecg-library/basics/sgarbossa/

ECG Example

Positive Sgarbossa criteria in a patient with LBBB and troponin-positive myocardial infarction:

This patient presented with chest pain and had elevated cardiac enzymes. Baseline ECG showed typical LBBB. There is 1mm concordant ST elevation in aVL (= 5 points). Other features on this ECG that are abnormal in the context of LBBB (but not considered positive Sgarbossa criteria) are the pathological Q wave in lead I and the concordant ST depression in the inferior leads III and aVF. This constellation of abnormalities suggests to me that the patient was having a high lateral infarction.

Video
Amal Mattu presents a case of acute myocardial infarction in the presence of left bundle branch block. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGQajcVgYPM&feature=player_embedded

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Sgarbossa Criteria

http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ecg-library/basics/sgarbossa/

Related Topics
Left bundle branch block

Further Reading
ECG BASICS Waves, Intervals, Segments and Clinical Interpretation ECG CLINICAL CASES Your favourite ECGs placed in clinical context with a challenging Q&A approach ECG and Cardiology Eponymous Syndromes Cheats guide to eponymous emancipation ECG Reference Sites on the WEB the best of the rest

Author Credits
Words - Mike Cadogan, Chris Nickson Diagrams Reproduced from the excellent EMS-12-lead.com ECG example - Ed Burns Web Editing - Ed Burns

References
Sgarbossa EB, Pinski SL, Barbagelata A, Underwood DA, Gates KB, Topol EJ, Califf RM, and Wagner GS. Electrocardiographic diagnosis of evolving acute myocardial infarction in the presence of left bundle-branch block. GUSTO-1 (Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries) Investigators. N Engl J Med 1996 Feb 22; 334(8) 481-7. doi:10.1056/NEJM199602223340801 pmid:8559200. PubMed HubMed [LBTB] Wong CK, French JK, Aylward PE, Stewart RA, Gao W, Armstrong PW, Van De Werf FJ, Simes RJ, Raffel OC, Granger CB, Califf RM, and White HD. Patients with prolonged ischemic chest pain and presumed-new left bundle branch block have heterogeneous outcomes depending on the presence of

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Sgarbossa Criteria

http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ecg-library/basics/sgarbossa/

ST-segment changes. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005 Jul 5; 46(1) 29-38. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2005.02.084 pmid:15992631. PubMed HubMed [Wong] Klimczak A, Wranicz JK, Cygankiewicz I, Chudzik M, Goch JH, and Baranowski R. Electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes in patients with left bundle branch block or paced rhythm. Cardiol J 2007; 14(2) 207-13. pmid:18651461. PubMed HubMed [3] Madias JE. The nonspecificity of ST-segment elevation > or =5.0 mm in V1-V3 in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the presence of ventricular paced rhythm. J Electrocardiol 2004 Apr; 37(2) 135-9. pmid:15127382. PubMed HubMed [4] Sgarbossa EB, Pinski SL, Gates KB, and Wagner GS. Early electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the presence of ventricular paced rhythm. GUSTO-I investigators. Am J Cardiol 1996 Feb 15; 77(5) 423-4. pmid:8602576. PubMed HubMed [Gusto]

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