Estimation of area at risk in myocardial infarction

This study presents a new method for estimation and imaging of the area at risk (AaR) in myocardial infarction (MI). The values of the ST-segment deviations of 12-lead ECG signal were used as input parameters. Based on DECARTO model, the spherical surface was chosen as a reference surface to approximate the ventricular wall. On this surface, the spatial ST vector was projected. The center of AaR was defined as an intersection of the spatial ST vector with spherical surface; the size of the AaR was set to be proportional to the number of electrical leads with ST-segment deviations. The method was tested using data of 10 patients with acute MI. The visual comparison showed good agreement with the AaRECG estimates based originally on the Selvester QRS scoring as well as with a non-electrocardiographic imaging method (SPECT).