Wellens' syndrome: a close call

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Jun 21:2018:bcr2018225376. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-225376.

Abstract

We describe a case of a middle-aged man who presented to the emergency department with typical anginal chest pains and found to have new, deeply inverted T-waves on ECG consistent with Wellens' syndrome. Similar to the description by Wellens et al, a critical 99% stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery was indeed confirmed by coronary angiography and successfully treated with drug-eluting stent. It is very important that physicians recognise this ECG finding as a harbinger of a serious cardiovascular condition and the necessity for an early invasive cardiac catheterisation.

Keywords: cardiovascular medicine; ischaemic heart disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angina Pectoris / etiology
  • Aorta, Thoracic / physiopathology*
  • Cardiac Catheterization
  • Chest Pain / etiology
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Stenosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Stenosis / drug therapy*
  • Coronary Stenosis / physiopathology
  • Disease Management
  • Drug-Eluting Stents
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Male