Remove Critical Care Remove STEMI Remove Tachycardia
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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. At first glance, it seems the patient is having a STEMI. He had this ECG recorded. Are the lungs clear?

STEMI 52
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Chest discomfort, Sinus Tachycardia, Q-waves, ST Elevation, and Intermittent Wide Complex Tachycardia. Activate the Cath Lab?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

His previous echo one month prior shows the same thing: “consistent with old infarct in LAD vascular territory, with EF 45%” "I think there is something else causing his tachycardia which is exaggerating his EKG findings and mimicking an acute myocardial infarction." The patient spontaneously converted back to sinus tachycardia.

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A young woman in her early 20s with syncope

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

While calling for some help and arranging to have her transported to our critical care zone, I got this quick ultrasound which confirmed my suspicion: This quick view was all I was able to obtain in the circumstances. One looks for sinus tachycardia and diffuse low voltage but many conditions produce these nonspecific findings.

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STEMI with Life-Threatening Hypokalemia and Incessant Torsades de Pointes

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Here is his ED ECG: There is obvious infero-posterior STEMI. What are you worried about in addition to his STEMI? Comments: STEMI with hypokalemia, especially with a long QT, puts the patient at very high risk of Torsades or Ventricular fibrillation (see many references, with abstracts, below). Crit Care Med.

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

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

There is an obvious inferior STEMI, but what else? Besides the obvious inferior STEMI, there is across the precordial leads also, especially in V1. This STE is diagnostic of Right Ventricular STEMI (RV MI). In fact, the STE is widespread, mimicking an anterior STEMI. EKG is pictured below: What do you think?

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Another deadly and confusing ECG. Are you still one of the many people who will be fooled by this ECG, or do you recognize it instantly?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Despite the clinical context, Cardiology was consulted due to concerns for a "STEMI". After initiating treatment for hyperkalemia, repeat ECG showed resolution of Brugada pattern: The ECG shows sinus tachycardia. A Very Wide Complex Tachycardia. From Ken Grauer ( See below ) — with this Figure adapted from LITFL.

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Which patient needs a CT scan?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

She had this ECG recorded: Obvious massive anterior STEMI She was quickly brought to the critical care area and the cath lab was activated. The blood pressure was 170/100 in the critical care area. Here is the ECG at 25 minutes: Terrible LAD STEMI (+) OMI So a CT scan was done which of course showed a normal aorta.