Remove Dysrhythmia Remove Pulmonary Remove Ultrasound
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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

Bedside cardiac ultrasound showed moderately decreased LV function. CT of the chest showed no pulmonary embolism but bibasilar infiltrates. (And of course Ken's comments at the bottom) An elderly obese woman with cardiomyopathy, Left bundle branch block, and chronic hypercapnea presented hypoxic with altered mental status.

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

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Smith comment: This patient did not have a bedside ultrasound. Had one been done, it would have shown a feature that is apparent on this ultrasound (however, this patient's LV function would not be as good as in this clip): This is recorded with the LV on the right. In fact, bedside ultrasound might even find severe aortic stenosis.

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

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

The morphology of V2-V4 is very specific in my experience for acute right heart strain (which has many potential etiologies, but none more common and important in EM than acute pulmonary embolism). CT angiogram showed extensive saddle pulmonary embolism. Now another, with ultrasound. On epinephrine and norepinephrine drips."

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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. Could the dysrhythmias have been prevented? Severe hypokalemia in the setting of STEMI or dysrhythmias is life-threatening and needs very rapid treatment. He was managed medically with Clopidogrel.

STEMI 52
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Emergency Department Syncope Workup: After H and P, ECG is the Only Test Required for Every Patient.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Check : [vitals, SOB, Chest Pain, Ultrasound] If the patient has Abdominal Pain, Chest Pain, Dyspnea or Hypoxemia, Headache, Hypotension , then these should be considered the primary chief complaint (not syncope). Aortic Dissection, Valvular (especially Aortic Stenosis), Tamponade. Good History and Physical exam, including a.