article thumbnail

31 Year Old Male with RUQ Pain and a History of Pericarditis. Submitted by a Med Student, with Great Commentary on Bias!

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Here is his initial ED ECG: The R-wave in V4 extends to 33 mm, the computerized QTc is 372 ms The only available previous ECG is from one year ago, during the admission when he was diagnosed with pericarditis: 1 year ago ECG, with clinician and computer interpretatioin of pericarditis Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE What do you think?

article thumbnail

Watch what happens when "pericarditis" and morphine cloud your judgment

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

06:44 - T-waves in V2 are smaller now - Overall resolution of prior findings (which qualifies as a dynamic change) The initial note by the cardiologist states that the presentation is more consistent with pericarditis. Remember, pericarditis is the thing you say and write down when youre actively trying to miss an OMI.

article thumbnail

7 Things You Can Do To Reduce Your Risk Even If You Already Have Heart Disease.

Dr. Paddy Barrett

It’s a multidisciplinary approach involving nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists and many others. Traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory for pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), it has recently been shown to result in fewer major heart events in those with a recent heart attack.

article thumbnail

Will this case be flagged for Quality Improvement in the STEMI/NSTEMI Paradigm?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Below is the first ECG, signed off by the over-reading cardiologist agreeing with the computer interpretation: ST elevation, consider early repolarization, pericarditis, or injury. Theres ST elevation in V3-4 which meets STEMI criteria, which could be present in either early repolarization, pericarditis or injury. What do you think?

STEMI 52
article thumbnail

Occlusion myocardial infarction is a clinical diagnosis

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

She contacted her neighbor, a nurse, for help. Recall from this post referencing this study that "reciprocal STD in aVL is highly sensitive for inferior OMI (far better than STEMI criteria) and excludes pericarditis, but is not specific for OMI." The patient presented to triage at around 10 PM. link] Bischof, J. Worrall, C.,

article thumbnail

Should we activate the cath lab? A Quiz on 5 Cases.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Triage is backed up, and 10 minutes into your shift one of the ED nurses brings your several ECG s that has not been overread by a physician. Imagine you just started your ED shift. It's a busy Friday afternoon. All of the patients presented with chest pain , and they are all in triage.

Ischemia 123
article thumbnail

A teenager with chest pain, a troponin below the limit of detection, and "benign early repolarization"

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

This case reminds me of this 27 year old totally healthy nurse who was previously healthy, presented with acute pulmonary edema and the below ECG that is diagnostic of proximal LAD occlusion, and was dismissed because of her age. Pericarditis? This gets drilled into them. 24 yo woman with chest pain: Is this STEMI?