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Powerful Medical
28. March 2025
3 min to read

Artificial Intelligence Detection of Occlusive Myocardial Infarction from Electrocardiograms Interpreted as “Normal” by Conventional Algorithms

Overview

Conventional ECG algorithms, humanly programmed to detect abnormalities based on fiducial points, frequently miss critical patterns of STEMI. AI-driven deep neural network models like PMcardio AI ECG offer significant potential in identifying these dangerous false negatives, reducing the risk of false reassurance, and enhancing clinical decision-making.

Published In: Journal of Personalized Medicine
Presented Date: March 28, 2025

Background

Some authors advocate that ECGs with conventional computer algorithm (CCA) interpretations of “normal” need not be immediately reviewed. However, such ECGs may actually manifest findings of acute coronary occlusion myocardial infarction (OMI). We sought to determine if such cases can be detected by artificial intelligence (AI).

Methods

We studied a retrospective series (2014–2024) of cases with ≥1 pre-angiography ECGs with a proven OMI outcome with a CCA ECG interpretation of “normal”. The OMI outcome was defined as (1) the diagnosis of acute type I MI, (2) an angiographic culprit with intervention, and (3) one of the following, (a) TIMI-0-2 flow, or (b) TIMI-3 or unknown flow, with high peak troponin or new wall abnormality. Each ECG as retrospectively interpreted by the PMcardio OMI AI ECG model. The primary analysis was the performance of AI in diagnosing “OMI” among these CCA “normal” ECGs.

Results

Forty-two patients with OMI met the inclusion criteria. The first ECG was interpreted as “normal” by the CCA in 88% of cases; AI interpreted 81% as OMI and 86% as abnormal. Of the 78 total ECGs interpreted by the CCA, 73% were diagnosed as “normal”. Of this 73%, AI identified 81% as abnormal and 72% as OMI.

Conclusion

The Conventional Computer Algorithm may interpret an ECG manifesting OMI as “normal”. AI not only recognized these as abnormal, but in 81% of patients, correctly recognized OMI on the first ECG and recognized 72% of all the CCA “normal” ECGs as OMI. It was rare for AI to diagnose a normal ECG for any OMI patient.


Authors: Shifa R. Karim, Hans C. Helseth, Peter O. Baker, Gabriel A. Keller, H. Pendell Meyers, Robert Herman, and Stephen W. Smith

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Powerful Medical leads one of the most important shifts in modern medicine by augmenting human-made clinical decisions with artificial intelligence. Our primary focus is on cardiovascular diseases, the world’s leading cause of death.

About PMcardio

PMcardio is a CE-certified AI that reads ECGs and offers a complex assessment of 49 cardiac conditions. Clinically validated in 15+ studies and trusted by over 100,000 clinicians, it delivers rapid, expert‑level interpretations, empowering emergency physicians, GPs, nurses, paramedics, and cardiologists to act with confidence at the point of care. Available for Individuals and Organizations.

About Powerful Medical

Established in 2017, Powerful Medical has embarked on a mission to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We are a medical company backed by 28 world-class cardiologists and led by our expert Scientific Board with decades of experience in daily patient care, clinical research, and medical devices. The results of our research are implemented, developed, certified, and brought to market by our 50+ strong interdisciplinary team of physicians, data scientists, AI experts, software engineers, regulatory specialists, and commercial teams.

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Relevant Publications

An AI Model for Electrocardiogram Detection of Occlusion Myocardial Infarction: A Retrospective Study to Reduce False Positive Cath Lab Activations

This single-centre retrospective study examined whether an AI-powered ECG model (PMcardio’s Queen of Hearts OMI model) can better detect acute occlusion myocardial infarction (OMI) and reduce false-positive cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) activations compared with traditional STEMI millimetre criteria. The authors analysed 304 consecutive STEMI pathway activations over a 2-year period at a tertiary academic centre and applied the AI model to pre-angiography 12-lead ECGs, comparing its performance against standard STEMI criteria. The AI model showed higher sensitivity (89.2% vs 68.3%), higher specificity (72.9% vs 51.7%), greater overall accuracy (82.9% vs 61.8%), and a high AUROC of 0.884 for identifying true OMI, while correctly flagging nearly three-quarters of false-positive activations as non-OMI. These findings suggest that integrating a specialized AI-ECG model into existing STEMI alert pathways could meaningfully reduce unnecessary CCL activations without compromising the detection of true occlusions.

Bifascicular Block Associated With Myocardial Infarction: A Marker of Proximal Left Anterior Descending Artery Occlusion Confirmed by the Artificial Intelligence-Based Smartphone App Queen of Hearts

This single-patient case report describes an elderly man presenting with chest pain, hypotension, and bifascicular block (BFB)—a combination of right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left anterior fascicular block (LAFB)—whose ECG showed QRS‑concordant anterior and lateral ST‑segment elevation consistent with a STEMI‑equivalent / occlusive myocardial infarction (OMI) pattern. Urgent coronary angiography revealed a long, severely calcified, near‑occlusive proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery lesion, successfully treated with primary PCI and drug‑eluting stent implantation, achieving TIMI 3 flow. The Queen of Hearts (PMcardio) AI‑based smartphone app correctly classified the ECG as STEMI‑equivalent, identified atrial flutter and BFB, and predicted reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, later confirmed by echocardiography (EF 38%). This case underscores BFB with concordant anterior ST elevation as a high‑risk marker of proximal LAD‑culprit OMI and provides anecdotal evidence that specialized AI‑enabled ECG interpretation can support rapid, accurate decision‑making in ACS. 

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