False ST-segment elevation by artifact due to an infusion pump

Abstract

A patient admitted for non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome showed an episode of ST-segment elevation on the monitor. These alterations were due to an artifact produced by the administration of a saline bolus through an infusion pump that disappeared at the end of the bolus. Our findings highlight that the interpretation of the electrocardiogram requires careful analysis and correlation with the clinical situation and with other physiological parameters.

Keywords: Electrocardiographic artifact; Infusion pump; Kuramoto's model; Monitoring; ST-segment elevation.