When a healthcare provider states "cannot rule out inferior infarct," it means that the diagnosis of an inferior infarct is being considered, but it has not been definitively confirmed or ruled out. This typically occurs when a patient presents with symptoms suggestive of a heart attack, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) or other diagnostic tests show changes that are concerning for an inferior infarct, but not conclusive.
ECG machines use automated software to provide a preliminary reading before a doctor sees it. Several conditions can "mimic" a heart attack on these automated reports: cannot rule out inferior infarct