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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. Then assume there is ACS. See these related cases: Cardiac arrest, defibrillated, diffuse ST depression and ST Elevation in aVR. This patient was witnessed by bystanders to collapse. They started CPR. sodium bicarbonate.

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A 50-something with chest pain.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

This is diagnostic of ACS; it appears to be a reperfused acute inferior OMI. VF was refractory to amiodarone, lidocaine, double-sequential defibrillation, esmolol, etc. Suppose the OMI had been recognized, or suppose another ECG had been recorded and it showed definite OMI. In aVF it is "coved" (upwardly convex).

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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. References : 1.

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Upon arrival to the emergency department, a senior emergency physician looked at the ECG and said "Nothing too exciting."

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

The fire department, who operate at an EMT level in this municipality, arrived before us and administered 324 mg of baby aspirin to the patient due to concern for ACS. She was defibrillated and resuscitated. Most studies examine undifferentiated ACS cohorts, with only a handful providing separate data. References: 1.

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Interventionalist at the Receiving Hospital: "No STEMI, no cath. I do not accept the transfer."

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

He was found in ventricular fibrillation and defibrillated, then brought to a local ED which does not have a cath lab. He was treated medically for ACS and did not get an angiogram within 72 hours. The 4th universal definition mentions ST depression, posterior MI, and T-wave changes." And we wouldn't do it tomorrow either."

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Middle Aged Woman with Asystolic Cardiac Arrest, Resuscitated: Cath Lab?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

She was never seen to be in ventricular fibrillation and was never defibrillated. Medics found her apneic and pulseless, began CPR, and she was found to be in asystole. With ventilations and epinephrine, she regained a pulse. She was hypotensive in the ED and her bedside echo showed a normal RV and LV. BP gradually rose.

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See what happens when hyperacute T-waves are missed

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

One must always be careful when looking for "baseline" ECGs, because the prior ECG on file may have been during another ACS event, as this one clearly was. He was defibrillated immediately and had return of normal mental status. Cath lab activation was cancelled but the transfer was accepted for urgent cardiology evaluation.

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