Case Report of S1Q3T3 Electrocardiographic Abnormality in a Pregnant Asthmatic Patient During Acute Bronchospasm

Abstract

BACKGROUND Asthma is the most common chronic pulmonary disease during pregnancy. Several previous reports have documented reversible electrocardiographic changes during severe acute asthma attacks, including tachycardia, P pulmonale, right bundle branch block, right axis deviation, and ST segment and T wave abnormalities. CASE REPORT We present the case of a pregnant patient with asthma exacerbation in which acute bronchospasm caused S1Q3T3 abnormality on an electrocardiogram (ECG). The complete workup of ECG findings of S1Q3T3 was negative and correlated with bronchospasm. The S1Q3T3 electrocardiographic abnormality can be seen in acute bronchospasm in pregnant women. The other causes like pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, acute lung disease, cor pulmonale, and left posterior fascicular block were excluded. CONCLUSIONS Asthma exacerbations are of considerable concern during pregnancy due to their adverse effect on the fetus, and optimization of asthma treatment during pregnancy is vital for achieving good outcomes. Prompt recognition of electrocardiographic abnormality and early treatment can prevent adverse perinatal outcomes.

Figure 1.

ECG showing S wave in lead I, Q wave, and an inverted T wave in Lead III.

Figure 2.

Image shows resolution of ECG finding.