Uncommon electrocardiographic changes corresponding to symptoms during recurrent pulmonary embolism as documented by computed tomography scans

Abstract

Electrocardiographic (ECG) findings of pulmonary embolism (PE) include S1Q3T3 pattern, right bundle-branch block, right-axis deviation, and T- wave inversion in medial precordial leads. We report other uncommon ECG changes associated with various symptoms during recurrent PE as documented by computed tomography (CT) scans in a single patient. An 83-year-old woman was admitted with PE secondary to deep venous thrombosis in the left leg. During episodes of chest pain, ECG showed QTc prolongation (480 ms) with new T-wave inversion in leads III, aVF, and V1-V3, and ST-segment depression in leads V5-V6. Despite adequate anticoagulant therapy, recurrent episodes of PE occurred in the hospital. When the patient experienced sudden chest tightness, ECG showed a new S-wave notch in lead V1 and clockwise rotation with sinus tachycardia. She also experienced transient syncope with hypotension. At this time, ECG showed transient atrioventricular junctional rhythm followed by sinus arrest, and CT scan showed a new massive embolus in the main pulmonary trunk with right ventricular dilatation, as demonstrated by echocardiography. The mechanism responsible for QTc prolongation with ST- T changes, the S-wave notch in lead V1 with clockwise rotation, or atrioventricular junctional rhythm with sinus arrest during PE may be associated with myocardial ischemia, acute right ventricular overload, or vagal reflex, respectively.