Question

What type of MI is seen when there is ischemia to the circumflex artery? What leads are involved? What are the complications?

Answer 1

Ischemia in the circumflex artery can lead to a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction or a lateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction, often involving the lateral ECG leads and possibly resulting in heart failure or arrhythmias.

Step-by-step explanation:

When ischemia occurs in the circumflex artery, the type of myocardial infarction (MI) seen is typically a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or, less commonly, a lateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The ECG leads most often involved with ischemia of the circumflex artery are leads I, aVL, V5, and V6, which are considered the lateral leads. Complications of a circumflex artery-related MI can include heart failure, arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, and mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle dysfunction.