What is an inferior infarct age undetermined?
An inferior infarct age undetermined is a term that refers to an infarction in the past at an unspecified time.
The cause of an infarct of the heart is a blockage of a coronary artery. In the case of an inferior infarct, the occlusion happens in the left circumflex coronary artery or the right coronary artery [1].
During an inferior infarct, the tissue in the lower part of the heart dies. It happens as a consequence of lack of oxygen and results in the end of the healing in a fibrous, garish scar.
The phrase "age undetermined" says that the inferior infarct happened in the past. It could have been an unrecognized or silent infarction.
The inferior infarcts age undetermined is diagnosed on an ECG. Among the common signs of a past inferior infarction can be pathological Q waves.
A Q wave is pathological when it is wider than 1 mm wide or 2 mm deep. Also, a Q wave that goes deeper than one-quarter of the QRS complex is pathological [2].
The occurrence of pathological Q waves in the lead III, aVF, and sometimes II indicates an inferior infarct age undetermined [3].
An ECG that shows an inferior infarct age undetermined is typically confirmed by another one. This is done to ensure the findings were not coming from a technical mistake, like wrong electrode placement [4].
Is it possible to have an infarction without knowing?
Yes, it is possible to have an infarction without knowing. Two types of infarction can happen without you noticing them.
One is the silent infarction. This type of infarction happens without any symptoms. Commonly, it is diagnosed during routine cardiological examinations. Silent infarctions account for even 25% of all myocardial infarction cases [5].
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