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Resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation. Should the cath lab be activated?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

He was defibrillated into VT. He then underwent dual sequential defibrillation into asystole. The ECG shows severe ischemia, possibly posterior OMI. But cardiac arrest is a period of near zero flow in the coronary arteries and causes SEVERE ischemia. It takes time for that ischemia to resolve. They started CPR.

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Cardiac arrest, defibrillated, diffuse ST depression and ST Elevation in aVR. Why?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Again, it is common to have an ECG that shows apparent subendocardial ischemia after resuscitation from cardiac arrest, after defibrillation, and after cardioversion. and repeat the ECG, to see if the apparent ischemia persists. Much depends on the post resuscitation ECG and its evolution shortly after defibrillation.

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Ventricular Tachycardia Management

All About Cardiovascular System and Disorders

Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in the setting of acute myocardial ischemia can also be treated by intravenous lignocaine bolus followed by infusion. Predisposing causes for ventricular tachycardia like ischemia and electrolyte imbalance has to be treated simultaneously to prevent recurrence.

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A 40-something presented after attempted prehospital resuscitation with persistent Ventricular Fibrillation

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

He underwent further standard resuscitation EXCEPT that we applied the Inspiratory Threshold Device ( ResQPod ) AND applied Dual Sequential Defibrillation (this simply means we applied 2 sets of pads, had 2 defib machines, and defibrillated with both with only a fraction of one second separating each defibrillation.

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Cardiac Arrest, acute ST elevation and depression superimposed on LVH, but NOT due to ACS

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

He was resuscitated with chest compressions and defibrillation and 1 mg of epinephrine. ACS would be highly unusual in a young athlete, and given the information on his race bib, one must first suspect that the abnormal ST elevation is due to demand ischemia, not ACS. This young male had ventricular fibrillation during a triathlon.

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Torsade in a patient with left bundle branch block: is there a long QT? (And: Left Bundle Pacing).

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

It should be kept in mind that on occasions, beta-one agonist can result in increased ventricular ectopy e.g., in severe myocardial ischemia (by increasing myocardial demand), or sometimes with congenital long-QT syndrome. Smith, this can be accomplished by either using beta-one agonists or temporary transvenous pacing.

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Cardiac arrest: even after the angiogram, the diagnosis is not always clear

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

She was found to be in ventricular fibrillation and was defibrillated 8 times without a single, even transient, conversion out of fibrillation. She was immediately intubated during continued compressions, then underwent a 9th defibrillation, which resulted in an organized rhythm at 42 minutes after initial arrest. see below).