Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Heart Attack

(NSTEMI)

Overview

A non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is a type of heart attack that doesn’t show a change in the ST segment elevation on an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) and often results in less damage to the patient’s heart than in a STEMI heart attack. However, these patients will test positively for a protein called troponin in their blood that is released from the heart muscle when it’s damaged. In NSTEMI heart attacks, it’s likely that any coronary artery blockages are partial or were only temporary.

A graphic showing the different types of electrocardiogram readings. It shows normal, "STEMI", and "NSTEMI" waves.

Treatment for an NSTEMI heart attack consists of medication and evaluation for whether a blockage should be treated with medication only, cleared through angioplasty or treated with cardiac bypass graft surgery (CABG).