Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

His response: “subendocardial ischemia. Smith : It should be noted that, in subendocardial ischemia, in contrast to OMI, absence of wall motion abnormality is common. With the history of Afib, CTA abdomen was ordered to r/o mesenteric ischemia vs ischemic colitis vs small bowel obstruction. Am J Med 2019, 132(5):622-630.

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Ischemia STEMI Stenosis Chest Pain 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 16, 2020

Here was the ECG: There is sinus tachycardia. Our chief of cardiology, Gautam Shroff, interprets it differently and thinks this is indeed ischemia. This was sent by a reader. A previously healthy 53 yo woman was transferred to a receiving hospital in cardiogenic shock. and K was normal. This is "Shark Fin" morphology.

Cardiogenic Shock 52

Cardiogenic Shock STEMI Pericarditis Blog 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 6, 2024

In the days before I learned to look for OMI, back when I was counting ST elevation boxes, I used to save ischemia for last.) This is sinus tachycardia (rhythm) with complete heart block (AV node function) with ventricular escape rate just below 30. Never forget that sinus tachycardia is the scariest arrhythmia.

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Blog Ischemia Tachycardia STEMI 111

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

Here is his 12-lead: There is a wide complex tachycardia with a rate of 257, with RBBB and LPFB (right axis deviation) morphology. Read about Fascicular VT here: Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardias for the EM Physician Case Continued He was completely stable, so adenosine was administered. See Learning point 1 below. Arch Intern Med.

Tachycardia 52

Tachycardia Heart Disease Dysrhythmia Ablation 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 1, 2023

First, we have a narrow-complex, regular tachycardia, with a rate of about 135-140. This narrows our differential for the rhythm down to sinus tachycardia, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT, or SVT), and atrial flutter. Tachycardia and ST Elevation. She was discharged home. Christmas Eve Special Gift!!

Atrial Flutter 52

Atrial Flutter Tachycardia Arrhythmia Blog 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 1, 2019

Although as a general rule, there should be no ST elevation in RBBB in the absence of ischemia, there sometimes is ST elevation that looks like this. If the ECG findings are truly new compared to a baseline (unavailable), this could suggest persistent ECG findings of ischemia, meaning poor downstream perfusion ("no reflow" phenomenon).

Chest Pain 52

Chest Pain Ischemia STEMI Blog 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 15, 2024

See this case, where a patient with BTWI morphology and dramatic EKG changes within minutes is diagnosed with myocarditis: [link] com/2019/07/what-does-this- ecg-with-significant-st.html EKG 3 also has a saddleback morphology in V2, which is only rarely due to OMI. Still, such dramatic changes cannot be overlooked. It was stented.

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Chest Pain STEMI Echocardiogram Stents 116

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 2, 2019

Diffuse ST depression with ST elevation in aVR: Is this pattern specific for global ischemia due to left main coronary artery disease? Ischemia b. ST depression: is it ischemia? It was a baseline finding in 62% of patients, usually due to LVH. Reference: Knotts RJ , Wilson JM, Kim E, Huang HD, Birnbaum Y. Hypokalemia c.

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Sickle Cell Disease Ischemia Dysrhythmia Chest Pain 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 11, 2019

The only time you see this without ischemia is when there is an abnormal QRS, such as LVH, LBBB, LV aneurysm (old MI with persistent STE) or WPW." Here is the patient's troponin I profile: These were interpreted as due to demand ischemia, or type II MI. ng/mL is seldom a result of demand ischemia (type 2 MI). First was 2.9

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Chest Pain Ischemia Aneurysm Myocardial Infarction 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 18, 2019

No more abnormal U-waves == MY Comment, by K EN G RAUER, MD ( 11/18/2019 ): == LOTS of great points regarding use of the ECG in association with electrolyte abnormalities. This is often quite challenging to recognize — but the finding of negative U waves in a patient with chest pain is highly suggestive of ischemia ! second ).

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Chest Pain Cardiac Arrest Bradycardia Ischemia 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

These findings are concerning for inferior wall ischemia with possible posterior wall involvement. C linically — the rhythm we see in the long lead II of ECG #3 behaves similar to MAT, even though there is no tachycardia. In lead III there is the tiniest possible amount of STE which is difficult to measure due to the very low-voltage.

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Chest Pain Pulmonary ACE Inhibitor Pacemaker 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 25, 2022

These include ( among others ) — acute febrile illness — variations in autonomic tone — hypothermia — ischemia-infarction — malignant arrhythmias — cardiac arrest — and especially Hyperkalemia. Sinus Tachycardia ( common in any trauma patient. ).

Arrhythmia 52

Arrhythmia Blog Chest Pain Cardiac Arrest 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 20, 2024

The first task when assessing a wide complex QRS for ischemia is to identify the end of the QRS. The ST segment changes are compatible with severe subendocardial ischemia which can be caused by type I MI from ACS or potentially from type II MI (non-obstructive coronary artery disease with supply/demand mismatch). What do you think?

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Cardiogenic Shock Ischemia Chest Pain Cardiac Arrest 128

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 25, 2023

ECG is consistent with severe hypokalemia and/or hypomagnesemia causing prolonged QT (QU) at high risk of Torsades (which is polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in the setting of a long QT interval). Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Long QT Syndrome with Continuously Recurrent Polymorphic VT: Management Cardiac Arrest.

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Chest Pain Ischemia Cardiac Arrest Blog 123

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

There is a run of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia — which given the QT prolongation, qualifies as Torsades de Points ( TdP ). This patient was having recurrent episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with an underlying long QT interval ( = Torsades des Pointes ). ECG #2 Interpretation of ECG #2: Underlying sinus rhythm.

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Tachycardia Blog Sudden Cardiac Death Arrhythmia 113

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 21, 2024

This progressed to electrical storm , with incessant PolyMorphic Ventricular Tachycardia ( PMVT ) and recurrent episodes of Ventricular Fibrillation ( VFib ). There is no definite evidence of acute ischemia. (ie, Some residual ischemia in the infarct border might still be present.

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Arrhythmia Cardiogenic Shock Bradycardia Defibrillator 131

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 6, 2020

Here was his ED ECG: There is sinus tachycardia (rate about 114) with nonspecific ST-T abnormalities. There is no evidence of infarction or ischemia. An ECG was recorded: This shows a regular narrow complex tachycardia at a rate of about 160. There are nonspecific ST-T abnormalities. This seems to me to be very unlikely.

Heart Failure 52

Heart Failure Tachycardia Atrial Flutter Cardiomyopathy 52

Ken Grauer, MD

APRIL 14, 2023

The terminology favored to describe these ECG findings is diffuse subendocardial ischemia ( See ECG Blog #271 — for more on diffuse subendocardial ischemia ). Figure-3: Reasons for the varied ECG presentation of acute LMain occlusion — with this summary synthesized from Dr. Smith’s 8/9/2019 post in his ECG Blog.

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Blog Chest Pain Ischemia Tachycardia 78

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Cardiovascular Implications of Fatal Outcomes of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Association of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) With Myocardial Injury and Mortality. Cardiac troponin I in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Evidence from a meta-analysis. Guo T, Fan Y, Chen M, et al.

Cardiac Arrest 52

Cardiac Arrest COVID-19 Myocardial Infarction Cardiogenic Shock 52

EMS 12-Lead

MAY 8, 2022

This is critical for the EMS provider, or ED clinician, as identification of Grade I ischemia (aka, HATW’s) addresses the culprit lesion at the earliest opportunity with excellent downstream prognosis for the patient. [2] 2] But there is also Sinus Tachycardia! Chapter 6: Introduction to Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction.

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ACE Inhibitor Ischemia STEMI Physiology 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 7, 2019

Although the shock is no doubt partly a result of poor pump function, with low stroke volume, especially of the RV, it should be compensated for by tachycardia. RCA ischemia often results in sinus bradycardia from vagal reflex or ischemia of the sinus node. This is a perfect indication for atropine.

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Bradycardia STEMI Cardiogenic Shock Ischemia 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 30, 2019

Otherwise vitals after intubation were only notable for tachycardia. An initial EKG was obtained: Computer read: sinus tachycardia, early acute anterior infarct. She was ventilated by bag-valve-mask by EMS on arrival and was quickly intubated with etomidate and succinylcholine. A rectal temperature was obtained which read 107.9

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Heart Rhythm Sudden Cardiac Death Arrhythmia STEMI 52

Dr. S. Venkatesan MD

JANUARY 28, 2025

It doesn’t require any extraordinary intelligence to conclude any chronic focal atrial tachycardia can get degenerated to AF in the long run. In that case, the famous atrial tachycardia localizing map from Peter Kistler et al from Australia JACC 2006 holds good for location AF focus too. 2019 Nov, 5 (11) 13281330 2.

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Atrial Fibrillation Pulmonary Tachycardia Electrophysiology 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 11, 2025

It is a wide complex regular tachycardia at a rate of 120. Is it ventricular tachycardia? I fear that many learners would also not easily recognize where the QRS actually ends, and I fear that some may think that this is ventricular tachycardia due to inability to distinguish QRS from ST segment. The ST Elevation is NOT typical.

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Cardiogenic Shock Chest Pain Tachycardia Cardiac Arrest 137

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 8, 2025

It is possible there is microvascular dysfunction producing residual transmural ischemia. But this is most common when there is prolonged ischemia, and this patient had the fastest reperfusion imaginable! Here is the final angiogram following placement of a stent in the ostial RCA.

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Cardiomyopathy Myocardial Infarction Defibrillator Bradycardia 75