Pulmonary embolism with ST segment elevation in leads V1 to V4: case report and review of the literature regarding electrocardiographic changes in acute pulmonary embolism

Abstract

A 62-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department (ED) after having three short syncopal episodes earlier that day soon after experiencing acute onset of shortness of breath. He had no significant past medical history and was a nonsmoker. Initially in the Emergency Department he was without any complaints, but then became acutely short of breath and hemodynamically unstable and died despite resuscitative efforts. His electrocardiogram showed ST segment elevations in leads V1 to V4, which is consistent with an anteroseptal myocardial infarction. Autopsy revealed that this patient did not have a myocardial infarction, but rather died of a pulmonary embolism (PE). This case demonstrates how a PE can mimic an anteroseptal myocardial infarction on electrocardiogram. This patient's lack of risk factors for PE also makes this case unusual.