article thumbnail

A teenager involved in a motor vehicle collision with abnormal ECG

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

See these publications for more information Overall, management for cardiac contusion is mostly supportive unless surgical complications develop, involving appropriate treatment of dysrhythmias and hemodynamic instability.

article thumbnail

A Relatively Narrow Complex Tachycardia at a Rate of 180.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Dilated pupils and hypertension are a strong clue to sympathetic overload, but don't forget anticholinergic syndromes, including tricyclics! I also believe that we physicians and medics are eager to treat dysrhythmias, and we want to see them even when they are not there. In this case, it resulted in VT, which could be cardioverted.

article thumbnail

Diffuse ST depression, and ST elevation in aVR. Left main, right?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Opinions vary widely on the K level at which a patient must be admitted on a monitor because of the risk of ventricular dysrhythmias. My rationale is that if the K is affecting the ECG, then it is affecting the electrical milieu and can result in serious dysrhythmias. Until some real data is available, my opinion is this: 1.

article thumbnail

STEMI with Life-Threatening Hypokalemia and Incessant Torsades de Pointes

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Could the dysrhythmias have been prevented? Severe hypokalemia in the setting of STEMI or dysrhythmias is life-threatening and needs very rapid treatment. mmol/L (n = 11), and Measurements and Results: All patients tolerated the infusions without evidence of hemodynamic compromise, ECG change, or new dysrhythmia requiring treatment.

STEMI 52
article thumbnail

A man in his 30s with cardiac arrest and STE on the post-ROSC ECG

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

A 30-something woman with chest pain and h/o pulmonary hypertension due to chronic pulmonary emboli A 30-something with 8 hours of chest pain and an elevated troponin Syncope, Shock, AV block, Large RV, "Anterior" ST Elevation.

article thumbnail

Atrial fibrillation? Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia? Don't look at computer read until AFTER you interpret!

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Atrial dysrhythmias, and atrial fi brillation in particular, are frequently misdiagnosed by computer algorithms and then by the physician who overreads them. Shah and Rubin studied the computer rhythm interpretation of 2160 12-lead ECGs, compared to 2 cardiologists [ 18 ]. Providers FORGET to “ U se t he O dds”.

article thumbnail

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

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

It was edited by Smith CASE : A 52-year-old male with a past medical history of hypertension and COPD summoned EMS with complaints of chest pain, weakness and nausea. This was contributed by some folks at Wake Forest: Jason Stopyra, Shannon Mumma, Sean O'Rourke, and Brian Hiestand.