Remove Cardiogenic Shock Remove Ischemia Remove Tachycardia
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A 53 yo woman with cardiogenic shock. Believe me, this is not what you think.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

A previously healthy 53 yo woman was transferred to a receiving hospital in cardiogenic shock. 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. and K was normal. This is "Shark Fin" morphology.

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Why the sudden shock after a few days of malaise?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Sinus tachycardia has many potential causes. This is especially true for the elderly patient with sinus tachycardia. What is the cause of the sudden tachycardia? The VSR is what is causing the cardiogenic shock! She had a very elevated troponin T at 12,335 ng/L at the time of presentation.

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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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What are treatment options for this rhythm, when all else fails?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

The patient in today’s case presented in cardiogenic shock from proximal LAD occlusion, in conjunction with a subtotally stenosed LMCA. This progressed to electrical storm , with incessant PolyMorphic Ventricular Tachycardia ( PMVT ) and recurrent episodes of Ventricular Fibrillation ( VFib ). RCA — 100% proximal occlussion.

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Tachycardia must make you doubt an ACS or STEMI diagnosis; put it all in clinical context

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

He was rushed by residents into our critical care room with a diagnosis of STEMI, and they handed me this ECG: There is sinus tachycardia with ST elevation in II, III, and aVF, as well as V4-V6. ACS and STEMI generally do not cause tachycardia unless there is cardiogenic shock. He had this ECG recorded.

STEMI 52
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An elderly woman with acute vomiting, presyncope, and hypotension, and a wide QRS complex

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

There is sinus tachycardia (do not be fooled into thinking this is VT or another wide complex tachycardia!) This pattern is essentially always accompanied by cardiogenic shock and high rates of VT/VF arrest, etc. This pattern is essentially always accompanied by cardiogenic shock and high rates of VT/VF arrest, etc.

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Critical Left Main

EMS 12-Lead

It should be known that each category can easily manifest the generic subendocardial ischemia pattern. In general, subendocardial ischemia is a consequence of global supply-demand mismatch that usually ameliorates upon addressing, and mitigating, the underlying cause. What’s interesting is that the ECG can only detect ischemia.

Angina 52