BHS Education Resource

ECG - advanced - chest pain - 5 
 

Pericarditis
 

Pericardial pain usually has a very specific presentation, in that the patient describes a sharp pain in the chest, relieved by sitting forwards.

A characteristic ECG is found in the more severe cases.
The 'saddle shaped' ST segment is consistent with pericarditis.
While early myocardial infarction can produce a similar ECG pattern, the pain of MI is not relieved by sitting forward, and does not have an audible rub.   
 

ECG ECG of pericarditis showing saddle shaped ST segments in leads II, V5, V6