STEMI
Medical abbreviation · Cardiology
| Stands for | ST-elevation myocardial infarction |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
STEMI stands for ST-elevation myocardial infarction, a cardiology abbreviation.
Heart attack in which a coronary artery is fully blocked, producing ST-segment elevation in two or more contiguous ECG leads. It is a time-critical emergency: guidelines aim to open the artery by primary PCI within 90 minutes of first medical contact, or to give clot-dissolving drugs within 30 minutes when a cath lab cannot be reached in time.
Example: EMS transmitted a 12-lead showing inferior STEMI, and the cath lab was activated before the ambulance arrived.
Usage notes
Pronounced "STEM-ee." Elevation thresholds depend on lead, age and sex: at least 1 mm in most leads, but 2 mm or more in V2 and V3 for men aged 40 and older and 1.5 mm for women. A presumed new left bundle branch block no longer counts automatically as a STEMI equivalent; clinicians apply the Sgarbossa criteria and watch for posterior MI and de Winter T waves. Hospitals track "door-to-balloon" time as a quality measure.
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- SCA – Sudden cardiac arrest
- SCAD – Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
- SCD – Sudden cardiac death
- SEM – Systolic ejection murmur
- SSS – Sick sinus syndrome
- ST – ST segment
- SVG – Saphenous vein graft
- SVR – Systemic vascular resistance
- SVT – Supraventricular tachycardia
- TAA – Thoracic aortic aneurysm
- TAPSE – Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion
- TAVI – Transcatheter aortic valve implantation
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.