Remove Ischemia Remove Pharmacology Remove Tachycardia
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Does this T wave pattern mean anything?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

An Initial ECG was performed: Initial ECG: Sinus tachycardia with prolonged QT interval (QTc of 534 ms by Bazett). She was admitted to the ICU where subsequent ECGs were performed: ECG at 12 hours QTc prolongation, resolution of T wave alternans ECG at 24 hours Sinus tachycardia with normalized QTc interval. No ischemic ST changes.

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

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DISCUSSION: The 12-lead EKG EMS initially obtained for this patient showed severe ischemia, with profound "infero-lateral" ST depression and reciprocal ST elevation in lead aVR. The ECG cannot diagnose the etiology of ischemia; it only the presence of ischemia, from whatever etiology.

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Young Man with a Heart Rate of 257. What is it and how to manage?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Here is his 12-lead: There is a wide complex tachycardia with a rate of 257, with RBBB and LPFB (right axis deviation) morphology. Read about Fascicular VT here: Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardias for the EM Physician Case Continued He was completely stable, so adenosine was administered. See Learning point 1 below. Arch Intern Med.

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A woman in her 20s with syncope

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

The ECG shows sinus tachycardia, a narrow, low voltage QRS with alternating amplitudes, no peaked T waves, no QT prolongation, and some minimal ST elevation in II, III, and aVF (without significant reciprocal STD or T wave inversion in aVL). It is difficult to tell if there is collapse during diastole due to the patient’s tachycardia.

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Arrhythmia? Ischemia? Both? Electricity, drugs, lytics, cath lab? You decide.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

In some cases the ischemia can be seen "through" the flutter waves, whereas in other cases the arrhythmia must be terminated before the ischemia can be clearly distinguished. 2) Tachycardia to this degree can cause ST segment changes in several ways. We discussed several pharmacologic and electrical options.

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STEMI with Life-Threatening Hypokalemia and Incessant Torsades de Pointes

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

If there is polymorphic VT with a long QT on the baseline ECG, then generally we call that Torsades, but Non-Torsades Polymorphic VT can result from ischemia alone. See here for management of Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia , which includes Torsades. If there is a pulse, you would call it Torsades. Serum potassium level (range 2.5

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