Vasospasm is associated with which type of ECG changes?

Vasospasm is associated with which type of ECG changes?

• A. Benign changes
• B. Ischemic changes
• C. Arrhythmias
• D. Structural abnormalities

Answer: (B)

Vasospasm is primarily associated with ischemic changes on an electrocardiogram (ECG). When there is a spasm of the coronary arteries, it can lead to a temporary reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle, resulting in ischemia. This ischemia manifests on the ECG as changes such as ST-segment elevation or depression, T-wave inversions, or the presence of Q waves, depending on the duration and severity of the oxygen deprivation experienced by the cardiac tissue. These ischemic changes provide critical information about the heart's condition during episodes of vasospasm, highlighting the relationship between the electrical activity of the heart and blood flow issues. Understanding these changes is integral for diagnosing conditions such as Prinzmetal's angina, which is characterized by transient ischemic episodes due to coronary artery spasms. Other options such as benign changes, arrhythmias, or structural abnormalities do not specifically represent the acute effects of vasospasm on the heart's electrical activity in the same way that ischemic changes do, making ischemic changes the most appropriate answer.

Vasospasm is primarily associated with ischemic changes on an electrocardiogram (ECG). When there is a spasm of the coronary arteries, it can lead to a temporary reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle, resulting in ischemia. This ischemia manifests on the ECG as changes such as ST-segment elevation or depression, T-wave inversions, or the presence of Q waves, depending on the duration and severity of the oxygen deprivation experienced by the cardiac tissue.

These ischemic changes provide critical information about the heart's condition during episodes of vasospasm, highlighting the relationship between the electrical activity of the heart and blood flow issues. Understanding these changes is integral for diagnosing conditions such as Prinzmetal's angina, which is characterized by transient ischemic episodes due to coronary artery spasms.

Other options such as benign changes, arrhythmias, or structural abnormalities do not specifically represent the acute effects of vasospasm on the heart's electrical activity in the same way that ischemic changes do, making ischemic changes the most appropriate answer.