EM Flashcards
How many seconds does each little box in an ECG convert to?
40 msec
How many seconds is one big box?
200 msec
What is the upper limit of normal QTc?
M 440msec
F 460msec
What is a normal QRS complex length?
120 msec (0.12 s)
What is the rate?
80
What is the rate
What is this rhythm?
52 ish
Sinus bradycardia
What is the rhythm?
Do you need to do anything to this person?
1st degree block
No
What is the normal PR interval
120-200 msec
What is the rhythm?
2nd degree block, Mobitz I
What is the rhythm?
Mobitz type 2
How do you differentiate between types of 2nd degree heart block?
Which one is less dangerous?
Mobitz 1 - lengthening PR interval until there’s a dropped QRS
Mobitz 2 - high degree AV block
Mobitz 1 less dangerous than 2 (2 -> 3)
What is the rhythm?
Complete heart block (3rd degree)
What is the classification framework for tachycardias?
Narrow or Wide
Regular or Irregular
What is the rhythm?
Sinus tachycardia
What is the rhythm?
Supraventricular tachycardia
AVRT / AVNRT
What is the rhythm?
Atrial flutter with fixed block
What is the treatment for supraventricular tachycardia?
Adenosine
Cardioversion if unstable
How do you treat atrial flutter?
Cardioversion
What is the rhythm?
A fib
What is the rhythm?
What is the most common clinical cause/correlate?
Multifocal atrial tachycardia
Cor pulmonale
What is the rhythm?
A flutter with irregular block
What is the rhythm
Ventricular tachycardia
What can “convert” a narrow/regular tachy into something that “looks” like vtach?
LBBB or RBBB
What types of medications can cause this rhythm?
What types of electrolytes can also lead to it?
Torsades de pointes (QT prolongation)
Antimicrobials, antidepressants, anti-seizure medications
Hypo K+ or Hypo Mg++
What is the intrinsic rate of depolarization of the atria? the AV node? the ventricles?
Atria <60
AV 40-60
Ventricles (20-40)
What is this rhythm? What is the most common cause of this rhythm?
Accelerated junctional rhythm
Digoxin
What is this rhythm?
Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
At what point do we consider multiple premature ventricular contractions a tachy?
A triplet
What does __geminy refer to?
The number of beats between premature contractions
Why is transvenous pacing the next step after trying transcutaneous pacing?
Pain restricts the amount of current that you can deliver
The current is less reliable / less effective?
25yo M with chest pain x 2 days. PMHX: none. BP 125/82.
What is the rhythm? How do you manage this patient?
1st degree block
Maybe some investigations–but not overly concerned (could do trops / electolytes / cxr but more likely non-cardiac cause of chest pain)
What’s the rule for estimating rate based on the number of big blocks on ECG?
300/150/100/75/60/50/43
60yo F with chest pain and dyspnea for past hour. BP 85/40.
What is the diagnosis? What do we need to manage them?
brady to 40s, 3rd degree block
ABCs, pacing, call cardiology for pacemaker r/o ischemia?
62yo M chest pain and dyspnea for past 24 hours. PMHX: none. BP 85/55..
Diagnosis? Mgmt?
Brady to 30-40 Mobitz 2
Unstable / likely hypotensve, try atropine, pacing.
50yo F with chest pain x 24 hours. PMHX: none. BP 130/90.
Dx? Mgmt?
Brady to 50
Mobitz 1 wenckebach
If chest pain isn’t ischemic sounding, then monitor / observe.
- 62 yo F with chest pain and dyspnea on an ER stretcher. Nurse goes to check on patient. Had previously been talking, now unresponsive, no pulse.
- 62 yo F with chest pain and dyspnea on an ER stretcher. Nurse goes to check on patient. Patient is talking and still has chest pain. O/E: BP 80/60, sats 92% RA. (Same rhythm as above.)
- F with palpitations on an ER stretcher. Nurse goes to check on patient. Patient is talking. O/E: BP 124/86, sats 99% RA. (Same rhythm as above.)
Dx? Mgmt?
230bpm VTach
- Start CPR, shock, epi, shock, amio
- get IV access, cardiovert 100J (give fentanyl)
- adenosine 6mg bolus
82 year old M with chest pain. While waiting in the ambulance bay in ER, becomes unresponsive.
Dx? Mgmt?
V fib
ABCs, start cpr, shock, epi, shock, amio
45 yo M with confusion. Tells you to “go away” when you talk to him. Admits to 10 beer tonight, started on an antipsychotic 1 week ago. BP 80/50, sats 92% RA.
Torsades de pointes
Sedation, cardioversion, give Mg++, get lytes
82yo F from home alone, found unresponsive. Pt was not answering son’s phone calls for 24h, so son went to check on her and called 911. EMS has been doing CPR on patient for 20 minutes, now in ER. Still no pulse.
DDx, Mgmt.
PEA
Epinephrine, continue CPR
Treat underlying cause, POCU
30 yo M, palpitations for 2 hours. No other symptoms. PMHX/Meds/Allergies: none. BP 124/80.
DDx
Mgmt
rate 180, AFib
Cardiovert (if < 12 hrs if no Hx of stroke or TIA) or procainamide
If >48 hrs, do NOT cardiovert. beta blocker or calcium channel blocker
70yo F palpitations for 2 hours. BP 110/60.
Dx ? Mgmt?
A flutter
Cardiovert
22 yo M student. Palpitations for 6 hours. Got 2 hours of sleep last night, has exam today, drank 4 energy drinks. Talkative, BP 130/78, sats 98% R/A.
Adenosine 12mg bolus
22 yo M student. Palpitations for 6 hours. Got 2 hours of sleep last night, has exam today, drank 4 energy drinks. Talkative, BP 130/78, sats 98% R/A.
Dx
Premature Ventricular Contraction
62yo F cough, fever, wheezing x 6 days. 50 pack-year smoker. PMHx: COPD. Puffers not helping. BP 106/68, RR 26, sats 96% r/a
Cor pulmonale
What are some classic ECG findings of PE?
Sinus tachycardia
S1 ( negative deflection of the S wave in lead 1)
Q3 (negative Q wave in lead 3)
T3 (negative T wave lead 3)
What kind of axis deviation is expected with PE?
Right
What is the DDx for 2 day hx of sharp pleuritic chest pain x2 days in a 37yo F smoker?
PE
Pneumothorax
MSK (diagnosis of exclusion)
What investigation would be best to diagnose a PE?
CT pulmonary angiogram
How can you rule out a PE?
Wells < 2 + Negative D-Dimer
PERC rule (Age <50, HR < 100, O2 sat on RA >94% with no suspicious clinical Hx or signs)
How do you manage a PE
Anticoagulation (e.g. DOAC, warfarin, LMWH / heparin)
Thrombolysis (worried about intracranial bleeding risk - only give to hypotensive / hypoxic ppl)
Send home with f/u for risk factors
What are the most likely diagnoses in this 60yo M with 5 day hx of exertional chest pain and a negative abdomen
ACS
COPD
How do you differentiate between stable angina and an unstable angina on history?
Predictable pain with predictable exertion = stable angina
Would you expect to see ECG findings or a positive troponin in stable / unstable angina?
No
Where do you send someone with unstable angina? What further investigations are needed?
Admit for further workup
Echo & stress test for risk stratification +/- angiogram; possible stenting.
How do you differentiate between NSTEMI and unstable angina?
Abnormal ECG with signs of ischemia.
What are the ischemic changes that can been seen on ECG in the context of NSTEMI?
ST depression
P inversion
What does a positive troponin indicate + positive ECG findings?
NSTEMI or STEMI
Where do we send patients with STEMI?
Cath lab
When do you need serial troponin?
If it’s taken too soon after the onset of chest pain, it’s not reliable, if it comes back negative but 3+ hrs later should be good.
How do you manage ACS?
Antithrombotic: Aspirin 160mg chewed + clopidogrel / ticagrelor
Anticoagulation: IV heparin
Do not MONA indiscriminately.
What is the diagnosis?
STEMI
What can you do with a STEMI if you can’t get to a cath lab.
Give fibrinolytic
32y trans male some SOB, 6 day hx of nausea and diarrhea, sharp bilateral shoulder pain x 1 day some chest pressure. bland Phx, mild tachycardia and tachypnea. What is the most likely diagnosis? What are the ECG changes?
Pericarditis. Diffuse ST elevation and depression of the PR interval.
How do you manage pericarditis?
R/o effusion with point of care u/s
Treat underlying cause
Give NSAID 14 days, steroid if refractory
Send home with f/u
What investigations are indicated for suspected pericarditis?
ECG
CXR
CBC, ESR, CK/Troponin
+/- echo
What are the 6 can’t miss chest pains
ACS, PE, pneumothorax, aortic dissection, tamponade, esophageal perforation