A poster developed by an Epworth cardiologist and medical student is being distributed to every hospital emergency department across Victoria and Tasmania to help doctors quickly identify subtle signs of a heart attack.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns can tell doctors if an artery supplying the heart is blocked, indicating a heart attack is occurring or imminent, which is known as STEMI. However, there are subtle and less recognised abnormalities in ECG patterns that can indicate this too.
Known as STEMI equivalents, these patterns present differently to the classic ECG changes doctors are typically taught to recognise and they can be overlooked in busy, time-pressured emergency departments.
That is why Epworth cardiologist Associate Professor Martin Hiscock partnered with second-year medical student Aaron Zhang to develop a practical visual reference tool highlighting a range of STEMI equivalents.
The poster is designed to simplify the recognition of these patterns by providing clear visual examples that allow clinicians to make a rapid 'spot diagnosis'.
While it is a simple measure at face value, A/Prof Hiscock expects the poster will have a meaningful impact and ultimately help save lives.
"These conditions must be acted on urgently because patients can quickly become very unstable and may die suddenly," A/Prof Hiscock said.
The immediate identification of the problem means prompt and appropriate investigation and treatment.
The poster, believed to be the first resource of its kind to be made available in Australia, will be distributed to every Victorian and Tasmanian hospital emergency department.
"Early recognition can make a significant difference to patient outcomes. Patients identified quickly can receive urgent coronary angiography and stenting, potentially avoiding serious complications such as heart failure, implanted defibrillators, cardiac transplantation or death," A/Prof Hiscock said.
"Importantly, these serious conditions can often be diagnosed from the ECG before a patient even reaches hospital. This allows clinicians to activate cardiac care pathways earlier and prepare for urgent treatment before the patient arrives."
The idea for the poster came about when A/Prof Hiscock identified a need to support ECG pattern recognition and, in fortuitous timing, Aaron reached out looking for a project for his studies. A/Prof Hiscock said his contribution had been remarkable.
"It is unusual for a medical student to make a contribution with this level of potential clinical impact, and Aaron has been very competent and professional throughout the project," he said.
While initially designed for emergency departments, the poster could also be used in ambulances, coronary care units, intensive care units, theatre recovery areas, and rural and remote hospitals.
