what does ST elevation of an ECG of a patient who has recently suffered a heart attack indicate?

was wondering why chlopidogrel and aspirin are contra indicated in MI patients whith elevated ST segment. (According to BNF)
Answers:
The ST elevation, like any ECG abnormality, is an indication of and alteration to either the electrical activities in cardiac muscle cells and/or the normal progression of electrical signals in the heart, (the heart muscle cells are all electrically connected together, and there are nerves running through the heart - they are called Purkinje fibres).The sign ST elevation on an ECG is consistent with changes in conduction and cellular activity due to lack of nutrients and oxygen to the cells - therefore it indicates a poor/absent blood supply to a given region of heart muscle (therefore that heart muscle damage is either likely, or is actively occuring)ST elevation isn't actually the most reliable sign of damage to heart muscle. A better sign is wide and/or deep Q-waves on an ECG. Q-waves can take 24hrs to develop following a myocardial infarction (or "heart attack"), and so, if we were to wait for Q-waves, then it may be a little late to treat a heart attack.So, actually, heart attacks get divided into NSTEMIs (non ST elevation myocardial infarctions) and STEMIs (ST elevation myocardial infarctions). Provided there are no other contra-indications, STEMIs get treated with thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary angioplasty, as they are more serious than NSTEMIs.So, in a nutshell, an ST elevation on an ECG, in the presence of clinical signs (such as chest pain, shortness of breath etc..) is a sign that the current heart attack is rather more serious and hence needs riskier/more invasive treatment.PS: The above pertains to very recent ST elevation, in the presence of clinical signs such as chest pains etc. After a heart attack (assuming the patient survives), the ST elevation gradually settles, but this takes time. So ST elevation in the absence of clinical signs is merely a sign of a recent heart attack and is not, on its own, diagnostic of on-going damage.

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I thought elivated T waves were a sign of hyperkalaemia (high potassium levels) Which BNF are you looking at? Mine, no.51, says 'acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation which is not the same as an MI. See NEJM article for more info

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thay are still alive

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Sounds like we're in the same boat.I even asked a specialist after my ECG showed an ST elevation and he mumbled something about blockages in arteries/blood unable to get through the heart valves and all sorts of other medical crap.
I'm still none the wiser to this day.

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ST elevation on an EKG can indicate damage to your heart muscle, blocked arteries, etc. But, if the heart is worked on quickly, the muscle can sometimes repair itself..

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this clearly shows that the patient has a bad heart problem it could be the mix of drugs also condition could be worsening

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