Subarachnoid haemorrhage mimicking transient ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract

Patients often present to the emergency department with loss of consciousness. The differential diagnosis of such condition may be difficult because of limited clinical information. The authors present a case of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) with initial electrocardiographic (ECG) finding mimicking ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which was confirmed to resolve in a follow-up study. Accurate and timely diagnosis of SAH-related ST-segment elevation was important, as the therapeutic strategy for SAH is completely different from that for STEMI. If the clinicians do not have other tools for diagnosis, the follow-up ECG may help us make a most possible diagnosis.

Keywords:

• Intracranial haemorrhage
• Myocardial infarction
• ST elevation
• Coronary spasm
• Coma
• Loss of conciousness