The Curious Clinicians - Bye Bye!

Ischemia decreases ATP production, which leads to faster potassium export through the KATP channel since it requires ATP to remain closed. This increased potassium export then leads to faster depolarization of ischemic tissue, which creates a current between ischemic and non ischemic myocardium. In transmural MIs, which cause STEMIs, this current is directed away from the EKG leads on the skin and leads to a lower baseline on theEKG tracing.