Isolated posterior wall STEMI (LCx / PDA culprit)
Encounter flow
10/12 authoredCanonical 12-phase frame with authored status for this dossier.
Frame
Isolated posterior STEMI = LCx or posterior descending artery culprit; characteristically MISSED because standard 12-lead shows ST↓ rather than ST↑ — historical under-treatment per Khan 2013 PMID 23877546; route to cardio.stemi.core.v1 for the reperfusion arc
posterior STEMI suspected/confirmed
Patient inputs (8)
Older patients more likely to present atypically; under-recognition rate higher (Khan PMID 23877546)
Contrast nephropathy + DOAC dosing if AF post-MI
Anterior ST↓ V1-V3 ≥0.5 mm + tall R waves V1-V2 with R/S ratio >1 in V2 (mirror image); inferior leads may have subtle changes if RCA-PDA territory
Posterior leads V7-V9 ST↑ ≥0.5 mm CONFIRMS isolated true posterior STEMI; AHA 2025 Class I if any V1-V3 ST↓ raises suspicion
Confirms infarct; required given ECG-only diagnosis often subtle and easily missed
Posterior wall motion abnormality (often missed on standard parasternal views; need apical 2-chamber + apical long-axis); LV function
Hypotension uncommon in isolated posterior STEMI but indicates large LCx infarct or concurrent inferior involvement
LCx vs RCA-PDA culprit confirmation; LCx lesions historically under-treated due to ECG silence — vigilant suspicion required
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Severity triggers (4)
- informationallife_threateningposterior_stemi_with_severe_mitral_regurgitationNew harsh apical/axillary holosystolic murmur post-posterior-MI + acute pulmonary edema → posteromedial papillary muscle ischemia/ruptureTrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationallife_threateningposterior_stemi_with_cardiogenic_shockPosterior STEMI + SBP <90 + lactate ≥2 — large LCx territory or concurrent inferior involvementTrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalsevereposterior_stemi_under_recognition_riskPatient presents with ischemic chest pain + only V1-V3 ST↓ on standard 12-lead — high under-recognition risk; posterior leads NOT obtained → potential mis-classification as NSTEMI / unstable anginaTrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalsevereposterior_stemi_with_concurrent_inferior_extensionPosterior STEMI extends to inferior territory → inferolateral / inferoposterior MI; complication profile expands to include AV block + RV extensionTrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
Workflow calculators
Run this disease's risk and dosing calculators inline.
Recommended regimen
Posterior STEMI complication phenotype — same regimen as parent cardio.stemi.core.v1; specialization centered on RECOGNITION + MR vigilance- aspirinfirst lineantiplatelet_cox1162-325 mg chewed • PO • load + 81 mg dailytriggers: stemi_post_roscACC/AHA 2025 ACS Class I; same as parentrxcui 243670
- ticagrelorfirst linep2y12_inhibitor180 mg load → 90 mg BID • PO • BID × 12 mo default DAPTtriggers: stemi_pci_plannedPLATO PMID 19717846; same as parentrxcui 1116632
- unfractionated heparinfirst lineanticoagulant_indirect_at_iii70-100 U/kg IV bolus then per ACT • IV • titratedtriggers: pci_plannedAHA 2025 Class I PCI anticoagulant; same as parentrxcui 5224
- atorvastatinfirst linestatin_high_intensity80 mg PO daily • PO • dailytriggers: stemi_confirmedPROVE-IT PMID 15007110; LDL goal <55 per AHA 2018 lipid (now <55 mg/dL secondary prevention)rxcui 83367
outpatient playbook — drug actions (1)
- 1. continue secondary-prevention bundlerxcui 243670ASA 81 + ticagrelor 90 BID × 12 mo + atorvastatin 80 + BB if EF<40 • PO • as scheduledtrigger: post-posterior-MIAHA 2025
Auto-drafted A&P note
outpatientSubjective
- Possible entry pathways: V1-V3 ST↓ ≥0.5 mm + tall R waves V1-V2 (mirror image of posterior); CONFIRM with V7-V9 ST↑ ≥0.5 mm; V7-V9 posterior leads ST↑ ≥0.5 mm = isolated true posterior STEMI; Ischemic chest pain + only V1-V3 ST↓ — high suspicion for posterior STEMI; obtain V7-V9 immediately.
Objective
- No vitals, labs, or imaging entered for this encounter.
Assessment
**Isolated posterior wall STEMI (LCx / PDA culprit)** (cardio.stemi.posterior.v1). Scope: Isolated posterior STEMI = LCx or posterior descending artery culprit; characteristically MISSED because standard 12-lead shows ST↓ rather than ST↑ — historical under-treatment per Khan 2013 PMID 23877546; route to cardio.stemi.core.v1 for the reperfusion arc No severity triggers fired against current inputs.
Plan
Regimen axis: **Posterior STEMI complication phenotype — same regimen as parent cardio.stemi.core.v1; specialization centered on RECOGNITION + MR vigilance**. 1. aspirin 162-325 mg chewed PO load + 81 mg daily (antiplatelet_cox1, first line) — ACC/AHA 2025 ACS Class I; same as parent 2. ticagrelor 180 mg load → 90 mg BID PO BID × 12 mo default DAPT (p2y12_inhibitor, first line) — PLATO PMID 19717846; same as parent 3. unfractionated heparin 70-100 U/kg IV bolus then per ACT IV titrated (anticoagulant_indirect_at_iii, first line) — AHA 2025 Class I PCI anticoagulant; same as parent 4. atorvastatin 80 mg PO daily PO daily (statin_high_intensity, first line) — PROVE-IT PMID 15007110; LDL goal <55 per AHA 2018 lipid (now <55 mg/dL secondary prevention) Setting playbook (outpatient) — Long-term cardiology surveillance: secondary prevention bundle maintenance; MR follow-up if posteromedial papillary involvement; cardiac rehab completion 5. continue secondary-prevention bundle ASA 81 + ticagrelor 90 BID × 12 mo + atorvastatin 80 + BB if EF<40 PO as scheduled — post-posterior-MI (AHA 2025) Non-pharmacologic actions: - Cardiac rehab maintenance phase - MR surveillance if present AVOID / contraindication checks: - Dapt_avoid_active_bleeding (AHA 2025) - High_intensity_statin_avoid_active_liver_disease (label) - Beta_blocker_avoid_acute_hf_or_cs (AHA 2025)
Monitoring
Regimen monitoring: - serial echo for posterior wall motion recovery - serial echo for mr severity (posteromedial papillary involvement) - standard secondary prevention timeline Setting (outpatient) monitoring: - Quarterly + annual EF + lipid + MR severity Follow-up plan: Cardiology follow-up; echo at 40 d for LVEF reassessment + ICD eligibility (lower than anterior); cardiac rehab - Close-out criterion: cardiac rehab booked + EF re-assessed Monitoring phase: Telemetry; daily exam for new MR murmur; echo at 24-72h for posterior wall motion + MR assessment; standard secondary-prevention timeline
Disposition
Current setting: outpatient — Long-term cardiology surveillance: secondary prevention bundle maintenance; MR follow-up if posteromedial papillary involvement; cardiac rehab completion Disposition criteria: - Long-term continuation; cross-link to cardio.hf.core.v1 if HFrEF persists; cross-link to cardio.valvular_disease.v1 if MR moderate-severe Escalation triggers (move to higher acuity): - Worsening MR → mitral repair eval - EF declining despite GDMT → advanced HF eval - Recurrent angina → cath re-eval
Earlier-Return Triggers
Return-precaution thresholds (watch for): - [LIFE_THREATENING] New harsh apical/axillary holosystolic murmur post-posterior-MI + acute pulmonary edema → posteromedial papillary muscle ischemia/rupture - [LIFE_THREATENING] Posterior STEMI + SBP <90 + lactate ≥2 — large LCx territory or concurrent inferior involvement - [SEVERE] Patient presents with ischemic chest pain + only V1-V3 ST↓ on standard 12-lead — high under-recognition risk; posterior leads NOT obtained → potential mis-classification as NSTEMI / unstable angina
Citations
- 2025 ACC/AHA ACS Guideline + ESC 2023 ACS + Boden 1991 + Khan 2013 [PMID:37622670](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37622670/) - Cited evidence (PMID 35718438) [PMID:35718438](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35718438/) - Cited evidence (PMID 38587234) [PMID:38587234](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38587234/) - Cited evidence (PMID 31475795) [PMID:31475795](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31475795/) - Cited evidence (PMID 1750584) [PMID:1750584](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1750584/) Last reconciled with current guidelines: 2026-05-14.
- 2025 ACC/AHA ACS Guideline + ESC 2023 ACS + Boden 1991 + Khan 2013 — PMID:37622670
- Cited evidence (PMID 35718438) — PMID:35718438
- Cited evidence (PMID 38587234) — PMID:38587234
- Cited evidence (PMID 31475795) — PMID:31475795
- Cited evidence (PMID 1750584) — PMID:1750584