ST segment elevation myocardial infarction falls towards the end of the clinical
spectrum of acute coronary syndrome. STEMI is defi ned by myocardial
necrosis consistent with myocardial ischaemia indicated by persistent ST
segment rise. Patients presenting with STEMI may go on to develop Q waves
on their ECG and show a rise in biomarkers indicative of cardiac necrosis
(European Society of Cardiology, 2008 ; Thygesen et al., 2007 ). This fi nding
will be determined by the speed of reperfusion and resultant myocardial
necrosis