Postprocedural single-lead ST-segment deviation and long-term mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary angioplasty

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic role of postprocedural single-lead residual ST-segment deviation for electrocardiographic evaluation of myocardial perfusion in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary angioplasty. DESIGN: Prospective observational clinical cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS: 1660 patients treated with primary angioplasty for STEMI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mortality at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Single-lead ST-segment deviation significantly correlated with infarct size, predischarge ejection fraction, distal embolisation and myocardial blush grade 3. At 1-year follow-up, 63 patients had died. The method correlated well with 1-year mortality. At multivariate analysis, after correction for baseline demographic, clinical and angiographic variables, postprocedural single-lead ST-segment deviation showed better accuracy than residual single-lead ST-segment elevation or resolution and residual 12-lead ST-segment deviation. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that maximal residual ST-segment deviation in a single lead at 3 hours after the procedure is an easy and accurate predictor of 1-year mortality after primary angioplasty for STEMI.