EMS 12-Lead

APRIL 9, 2024

There is increased LV cavity dimensions with an increase in transient ischemic dilation, suggesting Left Main, or 3-vessel coronary artery disease. 2. Coronary angiography reveals significant and severe CAD involving all three epicardial vessels. He awoke earlier that morning in his usual state of health. Type I ischemia.

Coronary 290

Coronary ACS CAD ED 290

Emergency Medicine Cases

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

The post ECG Cases 45 ECG in Weakness and Neurological Symptoms appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.

Coronary 292

Coronary OR EMS 292

First 10 EM

DECEMBER 25, 2023

Throughout the length of my career, we have consistently heard that less is more when it comes to blood transfusions (outside of the critically ill requiring massive transfusion, where the message, correct or not, has been the exact opposite).

OR 105

OR Coronary EMS 105

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 5, 2024

Why Was Cardiac Cath Negative for Coronary Disease? As noted by Dr. Nossen — this patient qualified as MINOCA ( M yocardial I nfarction with N on- O bstructive C oronary A rteries ) — since troponin was positive on his 2nd admission, yet there was no evidence of obstructive coronary disease on cath.

Coronary 106

Coronary ACS ALS OR 106

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 1, 2023

This patient in today's case was a man in his 60s with a known history of coronary disease, including prior stents. But in a patient with known coronary disease — who presents with new symptoms and the above ECG changes — any amount of Troponin elevation has to be taken as indicative of an acute event until proven otherwise.

OR 127

OR STEMI Coronary CAD 127

Emergency Medicine Cases

DECEMBER 20, 2023

ST/T changes: consider the differential including demand ischemia, associated electrolyte abnormalities, Brugada pattern from sodium channel blockade, and acute coronary occlusion vs vasospasm from cocaine. The post ECG Cases 47 – ECG Interpretation in Toxicology appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.

Coronary 203

Coronary OR Overdose EMS 203

EMS 12-Lead

JULY 24, 2023

Category 1 : Sudden narrowing of a coronary artery due to ACS (plaque rupture with thrombosis and/or downstream showering of platelet-fibrin aggregates. It’s judicious, then, to arrange for coronary angiogram. Supply-demand mismatch (non-occlusive coronary disease, or exacerbation of preexisting flow insufficiency) a.

Coronary 130

Coronary ACS CAD ED 130

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

NOVEMBER 25, 2023

A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrates ST elevations in leads II, III, and aVF with ST depressions in leads I and aVL and the team begins transport to the nearest percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capable hospital. Background: We have covered the issue of heart attacks several times on the SGEM. Reference: Stopyra et al.

Heart Attack 279

Heart Attack STEMI Emergency Medical Services Coronary 279

EMDocs

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Author: Brit Long, MD (@long_brit) // Reviewed by Alex Koyfman, MD (@EMHighAK) The American Heart Association 2023 Guideline for managing cardiac arrest or life-threatening toxicity due to poisoning was recently released. This post will focus on the key parts of the guideline that affect ED evaluation and management. Top 10 Take Home Pearls 1.

Naloxone 94

Naloxone OR Overdose BLS 94

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 25, 2024

But cardiac arrest is a period of near zero flow in the coronary arteries and causes SEVERE ischemia. Smith's ECG Blog ( See My Comment in the March 1, 2023 post) — DSI does not indicate acute coronary occlusion! It also does not uniformly indicate severe coronary disease. The ECG shows severe ischemia, possibly posterior OMI.

Defibrillator 110

Defibrillator Coronary Epinephrine ACS 110

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 25, 2024

A 40-something with severe diabetes on dialysis and with known coronary disease presented with acute crushing chest pain. As per Dr. Smith — today's patient is a 40-something year old patient with severe diabetes, renal failure and known coronary disease — who presents with “acute crushing CP”. Here is his ED ECG: What do you think?

Coronary 78

Coronary ED OR 78

Core EM

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

Isolated posterior MI is less common (3-8% of OMI) and presents with isolated ST-depressions in the anterior precordial leads (V1-V4), representing reciprocal changes to posterior left ventricular wall myocardial infarction as a result of distal occlusion of either the left circumflex or right coronary artery.

STEMI 130

STEMI Coronary Emergency Department OR 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

This is diagnostic of full reperfusion.] An old ECG was found: As you can see, this patient has zero baseline STE, and normal T-waves. You never know if a patient's baseline has normal large STE or complete absence of STE, or somewhere in between. 90% of normals have some STE in V2 and V3. I focus my comment on this initial ECG in today's case.

OR 123

OR STEMI Coronary 123

REBEL EM

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

What Your Gut Says: The patient has a tachydysrhythmia which may be the presentation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) even though the patient has no ischemic symptoms. Essentially, we are using the troponin assay to find patients with ACO who may be benefited by coronary interventions or risk factor modification.

Coronary 142

Coronary ACS ED OR 142

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

AUGUST 6, 2023

Doing so allows you to put YOURSELF to the TEST ( keeping in mind that all ECGs shown are from patients with chest pain suggestive of potential acute coronary disease ). Smith shows a new ECG. So — FREEZE the picture of each ECG on the screen — FORCE yourself to commit to an answer.

OR 93

OR STEMI Coronary 93

Core EM

JANUARY 25, 2024

Risk factors that increase the likelihood of VT include history of previous myocardial infarction, known coronary artery disease, and structural heart disease. The differential diagnosis for this patient includes Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) and Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) with aberrancy. Sources [link] [link] [link] [link].

Coronary 246

Coronary Emergency Department ED OR 246

EMS 12-Lead

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

Coronary thrombosis is a dynamic process of platelet aggregation and subsequent coagulation. During spontaneous reperfusion -- whether via thrombolysis, or recruitment of collateral circulation -- there exists characteristic ST/T changes on the ECG. Case Review: [link]

Coronary 130

Coronary OR 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

The 50-something patient with history of coronary stenting and slightly reduced LV ejection fraction. which would suggest reduced rates of major adverse cardiac events with coronary artery bypass grafting." On the other hand, stable EKG over an hour in the setting of ongoing acute coronary syndrome is again unusual.

Overdose 52

Overdose OR Coronary ACS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

This new ECG was still interpreted as STEMI and the patient was taken to the cath lab where the angiogram showed completely normal coronary arteries throughout. Smith : this ECG is definitely not OMI, but could be mistaken for Swirl pattern, which is a septal OMI with STE in V1 and STD in V6. Unfortunately no echo was available.

OR 115

OR STEMI EMS ED 115

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 18, 2024

The ECG is just a test: a Bayesian approach to acute coronary occlusion If a patient with a recent femur fracture has sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain, shortness of breath, and hemoptysis, the D-dimer doesn’t matter: the patient’s pre-test likelihood for PE is so high that they need a CT. But does this matter?

STEMI 118

STEMI Coronary ALS CAD 118

EMDocs

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Emergency physicians have recognized for some time that there are many occlusions of the coronary arteries that do not present with classic STEMI criteria on the ECG. This included the addition several new STEMI equivalents [4] on ECG that warrant “prompt evaluation for emergency coronary angiography.”

STEMI 110

STEMI Coronary Emergency Department OR 110

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 12, 2022

Here is the OMI progression of ECG findings for review: You can see that OMI ECG findings must "deflate" and pass through normal or near-normal in order to get to reperfusion findings. In other words, to get from hyperacute T waves and STE to terminal T wave inversion, the ST and T wave must pass transiently through a state of near-normal.

OR 52

OR ACS STEMI Coronary 52

EMDocs

JANUARY 8, 2024

Emergent coronary angiography is not recommended over a delayed or selective strategy in patients with ROSC after cardiac arrest in the absence of ST-segment elevation, shock, electrical instability, signs of significant myocardial damage, and ongoing ischemia (Level 3: no benefit). COR 2a, LOE B-R. COR 2a, LOE C-LD. COR 2b, LOE B-R.

Epinephrine 82

Epinephrine Defibrillator Coronary CPR 82

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 9, 2024

Before the lab values returned this patient had a n emergent coronary CT angiogram done that ruled out CAD. A false positive cath lab activation is also off course acceptable for this diagnosis if you cannot get an emergent coronary CT angiogram. Each main coronary artery (LAD, RCA and LCx) are shown in separate images.

Coronary 89

Coronary CAD ACS OR 89

EMS 12-Lead

SEPTEMBER 5, 2022

Another spurious finding is a QS pattern that mimics Anterior MI, and in the acute setting this may elicit compulsory urge to pursue invasive coronary intervention that is entirely unwarranted. Tom Bouthillet demonstrates appropriate electrode application when capturing the pre-hospital 12 Lead ECG: [link]

Coronary 130

Coronary OR 130

EMS 12-Lead

APRIL 21, 2022

There is appreciable STE aVR with near-global STD that appropriately maximizes in Leads II and V5, and thus suggesting a circumstance of generic, diffusely populated, circumferential subendocardial ischemia versus occlusive coronary thrombus. [1] It’s judicious, then, to arrange for coronary angiogram. Does the ECG normalize?

Coronary 130

Coronary ALS OR ACS 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 7, 2023

I quickly reviewed the patient’s records and saw that she was a 53 year old woman with a history of BMI 40, but no other identifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease. In this patient with stuttering symptoms and rising troponin, there is no other option but to perform emergent coronary angiography. Hers is shown below.

Coronary 105

Coronary OR 105

REBEL EM

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Control: 53.4% D ECLS: 18.2% Control 8.7% Control 38.0% Majority of patients had PCI performed (96.6%) Impella CP was most common mechanical circulatory support in patients without ECLS (85.7%) Death From Any Cause at 30d ECLS: 47.8% Control: 49.0% RR 0.98; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.19; p = 0.81 vs 13.9% (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.33 vs 22.6% (RR 1.03; 95% CI 0.88

Life Support 124

Life Support Coronary CPR OR 124

REBEL EM

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Take Home Points: A CCTA is an anatomic test to determine if a patient has normal coronary arteries, non-obstructive disease, or obstructive disease. Take Home Points: A CCTA is an anatomic test to determine if a patient has normal coronary arteries, non-obstructive disease, or obstructive disease.

Coronary 83

Coronary EMS OR 83

Critical Care Scenarios

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Takeaway lessons * Type B dissections do not involve the heart or coronaries, but Type A vs B nomenclature is falling out of favor versus more anatomically specific labeling; this system helps characterize the gray area between the innominate and the left subclavian. * Find us on Patreon here! Buy your merch here!

Naloxone 100

Naloxone Coronary OR 100

REBEL EM

JUNE 1, 2023

Indication for emergency invasive coronary angiography or had coronary angiography within 1 hour of arrival. Known obstructive coronary artery disease or known coronary stent. Design: Prospective, observational, before and after implementation of a protocol study. Known cardiac defibrillator. Pre-existing DNR order.

Coronary 140

Coronary Defibrillator CPR ALS 140

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 7, 2024

The most likely would be #2) initially normal, then #3) subtle OMI, then #4) obvious STEMI, and then #1) reperfusion: In other words, the patient with an initially normal ECG develops an acute coronary occlusion, with ECGs that progress from subtle to obvious, and then reperfuse after angiography. 2 Normal ECG #3.

STEMI 95

STEMI Coronary OR EMS 95

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 22, 2024

A comparison of electrocardiographic changes during reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction by thrombolysis or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Total coronary occlusion, if very brief, may have minimal infarction and yet be very dangerous. Pattern A evolves into Pattern B. Am Heart J. 2000;139:430–436. Am J Cardiol.

Coronary 118

Coronary STEMI ED OR 118

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 20, 2024

The scan also showed “scattered coronary artery plaques”. __ Smith comment 1 : the appropriate management at this point is to lower the blood pressure (lower afterload, which increases myocardial oxygen demand). They too have dense white masses consistent with coronary atherosclerosis. The blue circle shows the LCx.

CAD 124

CAD STEMI Coronary ACS 124

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 7, 2024

First trop was 7,000ng/L (normal 25% of ‘Non-STEMI’ patients with delayed angiography have the exact same pathology of acute coronary occlusion. The new ACC expert consensus explains that: “STEMI ECG criteria on a standard 12-lead ECG alone will miss a significant minority of patients who have acute coronary occlusion. Take home 1.

STEMI 69

STEMI Coronary ALS OR 69

EMS 12-Lead

MAY 20, 2022

Additional architectural changes include systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, endothelial dysfunction at the level of the coronary arterial bed, and ventricular diastolic dysfunction. This worried the crew of potential acute coronary syndrome and STEMI was activated pre-hospital. It is spread to V2 and V3.

Coronary 130

Coronary STEMI Firefighter ED 130

EMS 12-Lead

MARCH 19, 2023

He denied any known medical history, specifically: coronary artery disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, heart failure, myocardial infarction, or any prior PCI/stent. Learning points 1] Acute Coronary Syndrome has many shades of clinical manifestation. Breath sounds were clear in all lung fields. No appreciable skin pallor.

Coronary 130

Coronary STEMI Paramedic Defibrillator 130