Remove Cardiogenic Shock Remove Ischemia Remove Physiology
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Arrhythmia? Ischemia? Both? Electricity, drugs, lytics, cath lab? You decide.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

The axiom of "type 1 (ACS, plaque rupture) STEMIs are not tachycardic unless they are in cardiogenic shock" is not applicable outside of sinus rhythm. In some cases the ischemia can be seen "through" the flutter waves, whereas in other cases the arrhythmia must be terminated before the ischemia can be clearly distinguished.

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A 40-Something male with a "Seizure," Hypotension, and Bradycardia

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Why is the patient in shock? He was in profound cardiogenic shock. RCA ischemia often results in sinus bradycardia from vagal reflex or ischemia of the sinus node. There is an obvious inferior STEMI, but what else? Besides the obvious inferior STEMI, there is across the precordial leads also, especially in V1.

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Diffuse Subendocardial Ischemia on the ECG. Left main? 3-vessel disease? No!

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DISCUSSION: The 12-lead EKG EMS initially obtained for this patient showed severe ischemia, with profound "infero-lateral" ST depression and reciprocal ST elevation in lead aVR. The ECG cannot diagnose the etiology of ischemia; it only the presence of ischemia, from whatever etiology.