Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

This ECG was texted to me with no other information. The first ECG was recorded at 53 minutes after pain onset. The pain began to improve and this ECG was recorded: T-waves are not quite as tall, though still have a large AUC. An old ECG was found: As you can see, this patient has zero baseline STE, and normal T-waves.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Here is the ECG: Computer interpretation: Normal ECG Interventionalist after doing PCI: SUBTLE STT CHANGES IN LIMB LEADS To me, this first ECG is diagnostic of inferior OMI. I sent this ECG to the Queen of Hearts (PMcardio OMI), and here is the verdict: YOU TOO CAN HAVE THE PM Cardio AI BOT!! He walked in to triage.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 2, 2025

She had an ECG recorded: This is left bundle branch block (LBBB), with appropriate proportional discordance. In the middle of the night, a "code" was called, and multiple rhythms like this were recorded. Here is one of the strips This is clearly polymorphic VT and probably torsade de pointes Subsequent ECGs. J Am Coll Cardiol.

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EMDocs

MAY 4, 2024

. #1: Emergent Cath Lab Activations with “Normal” Computer ECG Interpretations Spoon Feed A significant minority of code STEMI patients have an initial normal computer ECG interpretation. Consequently, emergency physicians must remain vigilant to identify signs of OMI regardless of the initial computer ECG interpretation.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 26, 2023

mg/dL (sorry, Europeans, for the weird units) Here was the initial ED ECG: There is a junctional rhythm with retrograde P-waves (see the dip in the T-wave in lead II across the bottom; you can follow that up to all the other leads and see the retrograde P wave). The ECG must always be interpreted in clinical context.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 23, 2023

An Initial ECG was performed: Initial ECG: Sinus tachycardia with prolonged QT interval (QTc of 534 ms by Bazett). A repeat ECG was performed 2 hours after arrival: QTc prolongation ato 722 ms now with alternating T wave pattern (T wave alternans) I texted this to Smith who responded: “T wave alternans and long QT. 2005.08.066.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

The baseline ECG is basically normal with no ischemia. Here is what the Queen of Hearts says about the Baseline ECG: Active chest pain triage ECG also read as not OMI: She says "not OMI", but she does not have access to the baseline ECG. In the future, we will be able to have her compare with previous and serial ECGs.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 7, 2024

Here’s the EMS ECG, digitized with PM cardio. They arrived in the ED 30 minutes later to meet the cardiology team, where an ECG was repeated: Again no STEMI criteria, and there has been improvement in the deWinter and swirl pattern. What do you think? There’s sinus arrhythmia with normal conduction, normal axis and normal voltages.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

I was reading EKGs on the system and came across this one: What do you think? No followup EKG was recorded!! See many examples of Pseudo STEMI due to hyperkalemia at these two posts: Acute respiratory distress: Correct interpretation of the initial and serial ECG findings, with aggressive management, might have saved his life.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 17, 2023

Sean Rees MD, written by Pendell Meyers, other case by Sam Ghali and Steve Smith Take a look at these two ECGs below from two patients in the ED, first without any clinical context. The Queen of Hearts correctly says: Smith : Why is this ECG which manifests so much ST Elevation NOT a STEMI (even if it were a 60 year old with chest pain)?

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Below is the old ECG (on top) and then new ECG (on bottom). The old ECG has proportional ST elevation and T waves. But the new ECG has new Q waves in aVL and V2 (the distribution of the first diagonal artery) – and in the next context of Q waves, the T wave in V2 is upright and relative large. What do you think?

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 30, 2023

Queen: #1: NOT OMI, HIGH CONFIDENCE Queen: #2: NOT OMI, HIGH CONFIDENCE ECG 1 Interpretation: there is terminal T-wave in V3-V6. See 2 dozen examples here: Understanding this pathognomonic ECG would have greatly benefitted the patient. And ECGs can change and evolve even when there is no ischemia. KEY ECG Features: As per Dr.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 8, 2023

Triage ECG: What do you think? Code STEMI was activated by the ED physician based on the diagnostic ECG for LAD OMI in ventricular paced rhythm. Queen of Hearts interpretation: The cardiologist initially was not convinced, stating the ECG was not diagnostic or could not be diagnostic because it was paced.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

Triage ECG (no prior for comparison): Computer algorithm read: "Sinus rhythm, low voltage QRS, inferior myocardial infarction, probably old." I texted this ECG with no information to Dr. Smith, who immediately said: "If CP, then anterior OMI until proven otherwise." Every note says "no ischemic changes on ECG." Deemed "NSTEMI."

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 13, 2025

An ECG was recorded quickly before any further history or physical exam: What do you think? When I saw this (presented at a conference), I immediately thought it looked like Thype 1 Brugada phenocopy (in other words, Type 1 Brugada ECG pattern ). Unexplained cardiac arrest or documented VF/polymorphic VT: +3 3. Family History 3.a.

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ACEP Now

APRIL 4, 2024

A traditional, left-sided EKG was initially obtained, which demonstrated inverted P waves in lead I, deep Q waves in lead V1, negative QRS complex in V1, and RBBB. It was immediately discerned that the patient had dextrocardia from previous records, and an EKG for dextrocardia was obtained. Figure 1: EKG for Dextrocardia showing STEMI.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 31, 2020

Meyers, Weingart and Smith published their OMI Manifesto — in which they extensively document the critically important concept that management of acute MI by separation into a “STEMI” vs “non-STEMI” classification is an irreversibly flawed approach. P.S.: Our September 3, 2020 post features Dr. Meyers' 17-minute summary of the OMI Manifesto.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 4, 2023

Below is the old ECG, showing that all these changes are new – including the Q waves. This patient could have very easily been overlooked, both because the ECG was STEMI negative and because the Q waves were attributed to an “old infarct”. Fortunately, Dr. Cho was not looking for STEMI ECG criteria but for an acute coronary occlusion.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 19, 2023

This ECG was texted to me in real time, but I did not notice the message until about an hour after it came. "50 This was my response: "This looks like a worrisome EKG. But by now you must have a repeat ECG. But by now you must have a repeat ECG. Another ECG was recorded while waiting for the cath team (it was nighttime).

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

(photocopy of prehospital ECGs digitized by PMcardio) ECG #1 (top): there’s normal sinus rhythm, normal conduction, normal axis, normal R wave progression, and normal voltages. ECG # 2 (bottom): there’s sinus rhythm with normal conduction, normal axis, loss of R wave in V2, normal voltages. Will be missed easily.”

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 14, 2023

The triage ECG was sent to me with no history (I did not have access to baseline ECGs), and I said that I thought this was just LVH causing the anterior STE and T waves. I sent this ECG (with no history, no baseline ECG) to Dr. Smith twice, months apart, and he also said LVH without clear OMI. hour delay in this case.

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Taming the SRU

JUNE 3, 2024

Knowing the capabilities of your system BEFORE disaster strikes is crucial top 10 air care cases of 2023-2024 with drs. If you or your patient do not have a watch capable of providing you with an ECG, consider asking those on board to allow you to borrow theirs. Some newer AED's have the capability of providing you with a rhythm strip.

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RebelEM

JULY 3, 2023

Patients confirmed on ECG to have atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter Patients with HR >120 bpm. Pregnant or incarcerated patients Documentation for systolic BP is incomplete Intervention: Administration of IV calcium within 60 min prior to or 30 min after IV diltiazem administration in patients with AF/AFL with RVR.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 31, 2023

Here is the result: Next, it interprets the digital data: A perfect interpretation Unfortunately, this ECG was not interpreted as OMI and the patient did not get another ECG recorded until 2 hours later. I tell them that it is not the ECG that is nonspecific, but the interpreter who is nonspecific.

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The Skeptics' Guide to EM

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

Date: February 1, 2023 Reference: Wolfrum et al. Date: February 1, 2023 Reference: Wolfrum et al. You are tidying your things in anticipation of the arrival of the dayshift when a code blue is called. A post-arrest ECG doesn’t show any signs of STEMI. Circulation. Circulation. The patient is still unconscious.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 27, 2023

He had a prehospital ECG that was worrisome to the medics, so they called me to see him at the door. His prehospital ECG showed "inferior" ST depression and high voltage, with tachycardia. His prehospital ECG showed "inferior" ST depression and high voltage, with tachycardia. and had dilated pupils. He was alert and oriented.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 16, 2023

Here is his triage ECG: What do you think? No prior ECG was available. Pretest probability is crucial in ECG diagnosis of OMI or ECG diagnosis of OMI mimic. As Ken says below, tachycardia is not common in OMI and distorts the ST segment, so managing the tachycardia and repeating the ECG is a good strategy.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 26, 2023

This patient presented with vertigo and had an ECG recorded What do you think? So upright T-waves in the presentation ECG do NOT mean there is any re-occlusion. When I was given this case — I initially saw only ECG #1 — and I had not been given any clinical information. Over time, T-waves normalize in the absence of new OMI.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 6, 2023

Medical history: History of Ischemic Heart Disease History of Congestive Heart Failure Diabetes Mellitus requiring treatment with insulin Pre-operative serum creatinine >2 mg/dL He had this ECG recorded: What do you think? They compared to a previous ECG and thought they were identical. Are these ECGs of similar risk?

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 23, 2023

Here is the ED ECG: What do you think? The amiodarone was discontinued and the patient did well. == MY Comment , by K EN G RAUER, MD ( 6/23 /2023 ): == From an academic standpoint — I love WCT ( W ide- C omplex T achycardia ) rhythms. For clarity in Figure-1 — I've reproduced and labeled the 2 ECGs in today's case.

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Mind The Bleep

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Circulation Assess heart rate, blood pressure, peripheral and central CRT, pulses and 3 lead ECG. Provide detailed documentation of the initial assessment, treatment provided, and the patient’s response to interventions. Updated 2023 Jul 17]. Updated 2023 Jul 17]. Chemical Burns. In: StatPearls [Internet]. PMID: 7077702.

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ACEP Now

FEBRUARY 11, 2024

This patient’s syncope is most likely due to metabolic disruptions and fluid-status physiology; nevertheless, assessment of cardiogenic etiologies through an EKG, troponin, and cardiac risk factors should be considered as appropriate. There have been documented cases of overdose, and of note, there is no known antidote. Diabetes Care.

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ACEP Now

JULY 6, 2023

Now, for selected patients, emergency physicians can leverage low and non-rising high sensitivity troponin values and a low HEART score (composed of history, ECG, age, risk factors, and troponin level) to implement outpatient follow-up plans safely, within a few hours. In 2023 we must move beyond that title. Accessed June 10, 2023.

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EMDocs

JANUARY 11, 2024

Author: Brit Long, MD (@long_brit) // Reviewed by Alex Koyfman, MD (@EMHighAK) The American Heart Association (AHA) and Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) released their 2023 Scientific Statement on the critical care management of post ROSC patients. 2023 Dec 1. Pulmonary Management Takeaway: Use lung-protective ventilation.

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Ken Grauer, MD

JULY 29, 2023

The ECG in Figure-1 was obtained from an 18-year old woman — who moments before been resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. How would YOU interpret her post-resuscitation ECG? Does this ECG in Figure-1 provide clue(s) to the etiology of this patient's cardiac arrest? QUESTIONS: In light of the above clinical history.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 17, 2024

Pain improved to 1/10 after EMS administers 324 mg aspirin and the following EKG is obtained at triage. If this EKG were handed to you to screen from triage without any clinical information, what would you think? Do you appreciate any dynamic changes compared to the patient’s prior EKG? What do you think? In fact, Kosuge et al.

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Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Willy is a cardiology fellow with a keen interest in the ECG in OMI. Triage documented a complaint of left shoulder pain. If an immediate EKG was obtained, it was not saved in the medical record. A patient with OMI can have a totally normal ECG!" Cardiology was consulted, and repeat EKG was obtained at around 2:30 AM.

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