Suspected myocardial infarction in paediatrics: a retrospective review.

Creator(s)

• Laura Martis, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
• Lavina Desai, Children's Mercy Kansas City
• Katie Coons
• David Cloutier, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow
• Ashley K. Sherman, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
• Eric Hockstad
• Jennifer Flint, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
• Lindsey Malloy-Walton, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2026

Identifier

DOI: 10.1017/S1047951126111366

Abstract

Acute myocardial infarction is rare in paediatric patients, with limited published data on incidence, diagnosis, management strategies, and outcomes. A systematic retrospective review was conducted on patients aged 1 day to 21 years who presented with concerns for ST-elevation myocardial infarction at a paediatric institution and an affiliated adult hospital (1/2013-12/2023). Out of 965 screened patients, 13 met the inclusion criteria. The cohort had a mean age of 15 years (standard deviation ± 4 years), with the youngest patient being 11 months old. The study population consisted of 12 males (92%) and 1 female (8%), with ethnic distribution as follows: Caucasian (69%), African American (15%), and Hispanic (15%). An electrocardiogram with ST-segment changes was observed in all patients. Echocardiography revealed a normal ejection fraction in 54% of patients. Most patients (54%) had CHD, with three patients (23%) being undiagnosed at the time of the initial presentation. Seven patients (54%) underwent cardiac catheterization at the adult hospital, while 2 patients (15%) had coronary evaluation at the paediatric facility. One percutaneous catheter intervention was performed in a patient with known coronary stenosis at the paediatric facility. Three patients (23%), all with congenital heart disease, had cardiac arrest during cardiac catheterisation, resulting in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation. These findings suggest evaluation of pediatric patients presenting with ST-segment elevation can be performed at a pediatric center to rule out congenital heart disease, especially prior to referral to an adult facility for coronary intervention.

Journal Title

Cardiology in the young

Volume

36

Issue

3

First Page

471

Last Page

475

PubMed ID

41804170

Keywords

ST-elevation myocardial infarction; congenital coronary anomaly; myocardial infarction

Recommended Citation

Martis L, Desai L, Coons K, et al. Suspected myocardial infarction in paediatrics: a retrospective review. Cardiology in the Young. 2026;36(3):471-475. doi:10.1017/S1047951126111366