Remove Critical Care Remove STEMI Remove Ultrasound
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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. Then ACS (STEMI) might be primary; this might be cardiogenic shock.

STEMI 52
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What do you think of this ECG?? Is this during pain, or after pain resolution? Also, see the CT image of the heart.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

There was high suspicion of OMI, so patient was brought to critical care area and another ECG was recorded just 7 minutes later as the pain had diminished to 4/10. Here is the repeat ECG at 52 minutes after arrival to triage: Obvious posterolateral STEMI Angiographic findings: 1. V5 and V6 have hyperacute T-waves.

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A young woman in her early 20s with syncope

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

So I immediately left the room to get an ultrasound machine. 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. mm STE depression in aVL.

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STEMI with Life-Threatening Hypokalemia and Incessant Torsades de Pointes

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Bedside ultrasound showed no effusion and moderately decreased LV function, with B-lines of pulmonary edema. Here is his ED ECG: There is obvious infero-posterior STEMI. What are you worried about in addition to his STEMI? to greatly decrease risk (although in STEMI, the optimal level is about 4.0-4.5 Crit Care Med.

STEMI 52
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A 50-something with chest pain.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

He reports that this chest pain feels different than prior chest pain when he had his STEMI/OMI, but is unable to further describe chest pain. Arrival at time 0 ECG 7 min Roomed in hallway at 17 min Moved to room with monitor at 37 min The patient was seen briefly by the physician, who then went to get an ultrasound machine.

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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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Chest pain and hypotension in a patient who is 3 weeks post STEMI

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

A middle aged patient who was 3 weeks s/p STEMI came from cardiac rehab where he developed some chest pain, dyspnea and weakness on the treadmill. There is no acute STEMI. This is diagnostic of recent, reperfused STEMI. This is diagnostic of recent, reperfused STEMI. Acute STEMI would have upright T-waves.