Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 5, 2023

He did have a family history notable for early CAD. An ECG was perfomed on arrival to our ED: NSR with ST elevation II,III, aVF with reciprocal depression in aVL Would you refer this pediatric patient for emergent PCI? He denied drug or alcohol use. The workup at the transferring hospital yielded elevated troponin I at 18.1

Coronary 112

Coronary CAD ACS ALS 112

EMS 12-Lead

AUGUST 14, 2022

Otherwise, no admission of CAD, HLD, or family history of sudden cardiac death. The ST changes went overlooked by both the ED physician and the on-call cardiologist, and the patient was subsequently admitted to telemetry. He described the pain as “nagging,” and equally not exacerbated by any kind of movement.

STEMI 130

STEMI MICU CAD Coronary 130

EMS 12-Lead

JULY 24, 2023

David Didlake Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Firefighter / Paramedic (ret) @DidlakeDW Expert commentary and peer review by Dr. Steve Smith [link] @smithECGBlog A 57 y/o Female with PMHx HTN, HLD, DM, and current use of tobacco products, presented to the ED with chest discomfort. A 12 Lead ECG was captured on her arrival. Coronary Angiogram 1.

Coronary 130

Coronary ACS CAD ED 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 14, 2023

Sent by Anonymous, written by Pendell Meyers A man in his 60s with history of CAD and 2 prior stents presented to the ED complaining of acute heavy substernal chest pain that began while eating breakfast about an hour ago, and had been persistent since then, despite EMS administering aspirin and nitroglycerin. Pre-intervention.

CAD 52

CAD ACS STEMI Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 1, 2023

A man in his mid 60s with history of CAD and stents experienced sudden onset epigastric abdominal pain radiating up into his chest at home, waking him from sleep. He called EMS who brought him to the ED. ED Diagnoses: 1. We've come a long way in 2 years! And the pace only quickens. I ordered morphine but he refused.

OR 127

OR STEMI Coronary CAD 127

EMDocs

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

Reyes LF, Garcia E, Ibáñez-Prada ED, et al. Bottom Line: Consider steroids for patients with severe CAP being admitted to ICU. DRIP Score: [link] Azithromycin associated with reduced mortality in severe CAP admitted to ICU.

ICU 80

ICU CAD ALS OR 80

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 19, 2024

Case An 82 year old man with a history of hypertension presented to the ED with chest pain at 1211. The ED provider ordered a coronary CT scan to assess the patient for CAD. His pain suddenly became much worse in the ED and he became acutely diaphoretic, dizzy, and hypotensive. Another blood pressure was checked.

STEMI 62

STEMI Coronary CAD ED 62

EMS 12-Lead

JUNE 20, 2022

Moreover, he had no pertinent medical history to report in terms of CAD, HTN, HLD, or DM, for example. Here is the final ECG just prior to ED transfer. Attached below is the initial ED tracing upon hospital arrival, approximately 25 minutes after the prehospital ECG. A 12 Lead ECG was recorded. No serial ECG’s were recorded.

ACS 130

ACS Coronary STEMI CAD 130

EMS 12-Lead

APRIL 8, 2022

Furthermore, there was no family history of early CAD, MI, or sudden cardiac death. 1] Here is the admitting ED ECG after cancellation of Code STEMI. The patient continued to verbalize cessation of symptoms while in the ED. He reported to EMS a medical history of GERD only. However, in this context (i.e.

STEMI 130

STEMI ALS Coronary CAD 130

EM Literature of Note

OCTOBER 18, 2021

Patients were then were randomized to receive CTCA in the ED or “standard of care only” The primary outcome was, naturally, the glorious typical cardiology trial outcome of death or non-fatal myocardial infarction at one year.

Coronary 40

Coronary CAD ED OR 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 22, 2023

While in the ED, patient developed acute dyspnea while at rest, initially not associated with chest pain. The patient had no chest symptoms until he had been in the ED for many hours and had been undergoing management of his DKA. The patient was under the care of another ED physician. Another ECG was recorded: What do you think?

ED 102

ED Coronary CAD STEMI 102

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 20, 2023

Case "Male, 43yo, come to ED with Epigastric Pain started 3 hours ago. Remember: these findings above are included as STEMI equivalent findings in the 2022 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on ACS Patients in the ED. Since then, I started looking for OMI EKG findings and not just STEMI. Risk Factors: High Cholesterol.

STEMI 52

STEMI ACS CAD ED 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 19, 2020

Diagnosis of MINOCA should be made according to the Fourth Universal Definition of MI, in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) (no lesion ≥50%). The authors recommend using optical coherence tomography or intravascular ultrasound imaging in patients with evidence of nonobstructive CAD by angiogram. myocarditis).

Defibrillator 52

Defibrillator CPR Coronary CAD 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 19, 2023

Concerning history, known CAD" Recorded 2 hours after pain onset: What do you think? To realize — Assessment of ECG #1 is complicated by knowing: i ) That today’s patient has a history of documented CAD ; and , ii ) The lack o f a prior tracing for comparison at the time the initial ECG was interpreted.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary CAD OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 1, 2012

This was a middle aged female with a h/o CAD who presented to the ED by EMS sudden onset of central chest pressure 45 min prior to ED arrival with associated diaphoresis and SOB.  There is LVH and there are ST-T abnormalities (large inferior T-waves and ST elevation, with reciprocal findings in aVL).

STEMI 52

STEMI CAD ED EMS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 28, 2018

A man is his late 50’s presents to the ED with 1 hour of post exertional chest pressure associated with diaphoresis and nausea. He has a history of known CAD, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. The ED ECG in the context of the prehospital ECGs was indeed diagnostic of acute coronary occlusion. Leads II, III, aVF show about 0.5

Coronary 52

Coronary STEMI CAD ED 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 12, 2017

He had a family history of early CAD and occasional drug and tobacco use. The ECG was alarming to the ED physician who did indeed review it. It is not yet available, but this is your way to get on the list. link] Here is the history: A 30 yo man presented complaining of severe chest pain.

STEMI 52

STEMI CAD Coronary ALS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

A man in his 70s with past medical history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, CAD s/p left circumflex stent 2 years prior presented to the ED with worsening intermittent exertional chest pain relieved by rest. Written by Nathanael Franks MD, reviewed by Meyers, Smith, Grauer, etc.

ACS 86

ACS Coronary ALS CAD 86

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

A middle-aged male with h/o CAD and stents presented with typical chest pressure. The patient arrived in the ED and had this ECG recorded: Interpretation? Here is his ECG: The resident was alarmed at the "ST elevation in III with reciprocal ST depression in aVL" Are you alarmed? This is a very common misread.

STEMI 52

STEMI CPR CAD Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 11, 2019

Cardiology was called and the patient was taken for urgent catheterization with the time from ED arrival to cath about 1 hour and 45 minutes. He also had non-acute CAD of the RCA (50%) and LCX (50%). I focus my att ention on the interpretation of the initial ED tracing ( = E CG # 1 in Figure-1 ).

STEMI 52

STEMI ACS CAD ED 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 13, 2019

They found non-obstructive CAD, with only a 20% stenosis of OM2 and 10% RCA. The reason for this is clear — Statistically ( if you take all comers who present to the ED ) — acute coronary syndromes are much more common than acute pericarditis as a cause of new-onset chest pain with ST elevation on ECG. No acute culprit.

E-9-1-1 52

E-9-1-1 ACS Coronary CAD 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 16, 2018

The case An older woman presented to the ED with dyspnea, diaphoresis, and chest pressure. She had a normal EF, and no significant CAD, and was taking flecainide to suppress the AF. Figure-1: TOP — ECG #1 ( = the initial ECG performed in the ED). The initial ECG: The rhythm is regular at 150, and the QRS is markedly wide.

OR 52

OR ED CAD Overdose 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 2, 2023

Despite otherwise normal vital signs, she was appropriately triaged to the critical care area of the ED. They are rare and hard to find in normal practice in the ED. She denied chest pain and denied feeling any palpitations, even during her triage ECG: What do you think? There is mild-moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation.

ED 75

ED OR ALS CAD 75

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

A woman in her 60s with no prior history of CAD presented with 3 hours of sharp, centrally located chest pain with radiation to the anterior neck, with associated nausea. Medics recorded 2 ECGs, one before and one after sublingual NTG, and both are similar to the first ED ECG. Use ED Echo if available 4. Look at aVF.

E-9-1-1 52

E-9-1-1 STEMI Coronary CAD 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 9, 2023

No family history of sudden cardiac death, cardiomyopathy, premature CAD, or other cardiac issues. No similar symptoms in the past. No prior exertional complaints of chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, or undue shortness of breath. He denied headache or neck pain associated with exertion.

Coronary 52

Coronary STEMI Heart Attack OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

His ED cardiac ultrasound (which is not at all ideal for detecting wall motion abnormalities, and is also very operator dependent for this finding) was significant for depressed global EF. In this study of dialysis patients with severe CAD, 77% had an abnormal resting EKG and the most common abnormality was LVH. Herzog et al.

CAD 52

CAD OR ED ALS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 20, 2024

Cardiology refused to be the admitting physician because it was "NSTEMI", and forced the ED physician to admit the patient to the hospitalist. Of course, there was terrible boarding and the patient was considered non-emergent (NSTEMI), and so could not leave the ED for some time. Scattered other nonobstructive CAD.

STEMI 114

STEMI CAD ED ALS 114

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 31, 2020

A middle-aged man complained of 15 minutes of classic angina that resolved upon arrival to the ED. So I made an ED diagnosis of Non-Occlusion Myocardial Infarction (NOMI), and his next day angiogram confirmed NOMI. Figure-1: The initial ECG that was done in the ED ( See text ). Here is his initial ECG: What do you think?

ED 52

ED Coronary ACS CAD 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 31, 2018

She had zero CAD risk factors. The 1st “lesson” is, “All bets are off” — when an adult of any age presents to the ED with new-onset chest discomfort. hours of substernal chest pressure. It was non-radiating and without other associated symptoms except for nausea. Here was her ECG at time zero: What do you think?

Coronary 52

Coronary ACS STEMI OR 52

ACEP Now

APRIL 4, 2024

A 59-year-old male with a past medical history of a repaired ventricular septal defect (VSD), dextrocardia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and current smoker presented to the emergency department (ED). This patient had known coronary artery disease (CAD), and previously required drug eluting stents to the obtuse marginal and diagonal arteries.

Coronary 40

Coronary STEMI CAD Emergency Department 40

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 22, 2023

An ECG was performed in the ED at 1554: Original image unavailable, this is the only recorded scanned ECG available. QOH Interpretation: The initial troponin I (older generation) at the first ED was barely positive at 0.06 She has not had a heart catheterization or after this event so the presence or absence of CAD is still unknown.

E-9-1-1 67

E-9-1-1 CAD OR STEMI 67

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 10, 2023

CAD-RADS category 1. --No That said — I did not feel the history we were given pointed to any particular diagnosis ( ie, 3 episodes of CP and dyspnea of uncertain duration over the past day — with pain on deep breathing — but with symptoms apparently resolved by the time the patient arrived in the ED ).

Coronary 52

Coronary STEMI CAD OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 10, 2022

He reportedly told his family "I think I'm having a heart attack", then they immediately drove him to the ED, and he was able to ambulate into the triage area before he collapsed and became unresponsive. The value of Stat Echo in the ED for confirming clinical and ECG suspicion of acute PE cannot be overstated!

ACS 52

ACS CPR CAD Heart Attack 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 30, 2019

A formal echocardiogram was completed the next day and again showed a normal ejection fraction without any focal wall motion abnormalities to suggest CAD. She has not had a heart catheterization or after this event so the presence or absence of CAD is still unknown. The Troponin I was cycled over time and was 0.353 followed by 0.296.

E-9-1-1 52

E-9-1-1 CAD STEMI OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

J Electrocardiol [Internet] 2022;Available from: [link] Cardiology opinion: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (EF 30-35%) V Fib Cardiac arrest Prolonged QTC NSTEMI (Smith comment: is it NSTEMI or is it Takotsubo? -- these are entirely different) Moderate single-vessel CAD. I could have told you this (and did tell you this) without an MRI.

Emergency Department 52

Emergency Department E-9-1-1 Coronary STEMI 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 6, 2019

She was asymptomatic at the time of this ECG recorded on arrival to our ED: What do you think? She also had non-acute CAD of the left main (50%) and LCX (75%). By the time the patient arrived at our facility, she had received aspirin and nitroglycerin, and her pain had apparently completely resolved. They opened it.

STEMI 52

STEMI ALS ACS OR 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 24, 2023

Written by Jesse McLaren, with comments from Smith An 85 year old with a history of CAD presented with 3 hours of chest pain that feels like heartburn but that radiates to the left arm. The Repeat ECG: As per Dr. McLaren — the patient was unfortunately discharged from the ED — but returned 6 hours later with a recurrence of chest pain.

STEMI 52

STEMI Coronary CAD OR 52