Identification of the STEMI-equivalent de Winter Electrocardiogram Pattern After Ventricular Fibrillation Cardiac Arrest: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chest pain who have ST elevations on electrocardiogram (ECG) are at high risk for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Recent literature has reported various STEMI equivalents, which may be equally threatening. One STEMI equivalent, previously named the de Winter pattern, describes ECG changes where there are ST-segment depressions in the precordial leads in association with tall, symmetrical, hyperacute T-waves. These changes have been connected with proximal left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. CASE REPORT: We have identified a case of the de Winter ECG pattern immediately after ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest. A 33-year-old man presented with waxing and waning severe substernal chest pain. The patient was on no prior medications, and had no risk factors for acute coronary syndrome. The initial ECG showed ST depression, which was followed by normalization in a repeat ECG only minutes later. The patient then developed ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest. After defibrillation, return of spontaneous circulation was achieved and subsequent ECGs demonstrated the de Winter ECG pattern. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: The characteristic ECG changes within the de Winter ECG pattern may be missed or misdiagnosed as nonspecific, reversible ischemia. This can significantly lengthen the transportation to a center equipped with a percutaneous coronary intervention laboratory, and thus the start of reperfusion therapy. It is imperative that all practitioners learn to identify this novel ECG pattern as a STEMI equivalent to ensure appropriate intervention in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Medical students' attitudes in a PBL curriculum: trust, altruism, and cynicism.

PURPOSE: Studies have shown that medical students become more cynical and less altruistic as they advance in training. However, these studies were conducted in traditional medical schools, and many used unvalidated tools. This study examined students' attitudes in a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum using reliable and valid measures. METHOD: Medical students and PGY-1 residents at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia, completed Wrightsman's Philosophies of Human Natures Scale (PHNS) in 1999 and 2000. Chronbach's alpha assessed internal reliability among subscales, and test-retest reliability coefficients confirmed acceptable reliability. For 114 students who completed both surveys, changes in PHNS scores were analyzed, with particular attention to the subscales of trustworthiness, altruism, and cynicism. RESULTS: Students assessed at the beginning of their second year increased the extent to which they believed people are trustworthy and increased their beliefs in how altruistic people are. They also showed a significant decrease in cynicism. There was not a significant change in trustworthiness, altruism, or cynicism among the participants beyond first year. In general, female students held less cynical views about others and believed people to be more trustworthy. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to prior reports, this study found that more advanced trainees were not more cynical or less altruistic than their more junior counterparts. Indeed, a significant and positive change of attitudes among the participants during their first year of medical school refuted earlier reports. Thus, results of earlier studies and the effect of a PBL curriculum on attitudes of medical students need to be re-examined.