In which leads would you see ST elevation indicating an inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI)?

In the context of diagnosing an inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI), the correct leads to examine for ST segment elevation are primarily leads II, III, and aVF. These leads correspond to the inferior part of the heart and are crucial for identifying ischemic changes associated with inferior wall MIs.

Lead II captures electrical activity from the right arm to the left leg, while Lead III captures the activity from the left arm to the left leg, and Lead aVF measures the voltage from the top of the heart (averaging the right and left arm) to the left leg. In the case of an inferior wall MI, the associated ST elevation in these leads indicates that there is a significant disruption in blood flow to the inferior aspect of the heart, typically due to occlusion of the right coronary artery in right-dominant coronary circulation.

Understanding the lead placements and their relationship to specific regions of the heart is vital in interpreting EKGs effectively. In contrast, the other listed groups of leads do not have the same relationship to the inferior wall, thereby making their response to an inferior MI different from what is observed in leads II, III, and aVF.