What happens to the ST segment with ventricular strain?

What happens to the ST segment with ventricular strain?

• A. It becomes elevated and wide
• B. It is mildly depressed and humped
• C. It remains unchanged
• D. It becomes sharply depressed

Answer: (B)

The ST segment in the context of ventricular strain typically presents as a mild depression with a humped appearance. This change is often the result of increased wall stress on the ventricles, which can occur due to factors like hypertension or volume overload. As the ventricular muscle becomes strained, it can cause shifts in repolarization, reflected by this characteristic ST segment morphology.

In cases of strain, the subtle alterations in myocardial repolarization lead to the recognizable pattern of ST segment depression, which is not severe but enough to note a deviation from the baseline. This differs from other scenarios that might exhibit more pronounced changes in the ST segment, such as significant ischemia or myocardial infarction, where more drastic shifts would be seen. Understanding this change is crucial in interpreting EKG results and assessing for underlying cardiac conditions.