Remove ACS Remove Emergency Department Remove STEMI
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Tachycardia must make you doubt an ACS or STEMI diagnosis; put it all in clinical context

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

He presented to the Emergency Department with a blood pressure of 111/66 and a pulse of 117. He was rushed by residents into our critical care room with a diagnosis of STEMI, and they handed me this ECG: There is sinus tachycardia with ST elevation in II, III, and aVF, as well as V4-V6. He had this ECG recorded.

ACS 52
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Three patients with chest pain and “normal” ECGs: which had OMI? Which were normal? And how did the Queen of Hearts perform?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Case 1: Case 2: Case 3: Triage ECGs labeled ‘normal’ There have been a number of small studies suggesting that triage ECGs labeled ‘normal’ are unlikely to have clinical significance, and therefore that emergency physicians should not be interrupted to interpret them, and that such patients can safely wait to be seen.

STEMI 119
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Another deadly triage ECG missed, and the waiting patient leaves before being seen. What is this nearly pathognomonic ECG?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Written by Bobby Nicholson, MD 67 year old male with history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented to the Emergency Department via ambulance with midsternal nonradiating chest pain and dyspnea on exertion. looked at consecutive patients with PE, ACS, or neither. What do you think? ng/mL, BNP 2790, and lactate 3.7.

E-9-1-1 139
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SGEM#344: We Will…We Will Cath You – But should We After An OHCA Without ST Elevations?

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

She arrives in the emergency department (ED) with decreased level of consciousness and shock. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is responsible for the majority (60%) of all OHCAs in patients. She has a history of hypertension and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

EMR 130
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An undergraduate who is an EKG tech sees something. The computer calls it completely normal. How about the physicians?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

The cardiologist recognized that there were EKG changes, but did not take the patient for emergent catheterization because the EKG was “not meeting criteria for STEMI”. Smith comment : Is the ACS (rupture plaque) with occlusion that is now reperfusing? Annals of Emergency Medicine 2011; Suppl 58(4): S211. Murakami MM.

CAD 126
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Chest pain and a computer ‘normal’ ECG. Therefore, there is no need for a physician to look at this ECG.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

, tells us that we physicians do not need to even look at this ECG until the patient is placed in a room because the computer says it is normal: Validity of Computer-interpreted “Normal” and “Otherwise Normal” ECG in Emergency Department Triage Patients I reviewed this article for a different journal and recommended rejection and it was rejected.

STEMI 117
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Is OMI an ECG Diagnosis?

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Written by Jesse McLaren A 70 year old with prior MIs and stents to LAD and RCA presented to the emergency department with 2 weeks of increasing exertional chest pain radiating to the left arm, associated with nausea. I sent this to the Queen of Hearts So the ECG is both STEMI negative and has no subtle diagnostic signs of occlusion.

STEMI 121