Chest Pain

ECG STAT November 11, 2025

High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism

Key Points: The ECG can provide early clues to high-risk PE and may identify patients at risk for rapid hemodynamic collapse. Right ventricular strain patterns are the core high-risk markers….

ECG STAT September 7, 2025

ECG Findings in Tension Pneumothorax

Key Points Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis—ECG changes are nonspecific but can provide supportive evidence in the right context. Electrical changes are primarily due to mechanical effects of air…

ECG STAT September 7, 2025

Acute Chest Pain: DDx

Key Points In patients presenting with acute chest pain, identifying life-threatening conditions is essential. Use a systematic ECG approach alongside clinical context to evaluate for high-risk diagnoses that require immediate…

ECG STAT September 2, 2025

ECG Findings in Aortic Dissection

Key Points Aortic dissection or aneurysm can produce ischemic‑appearing ECGs due to coronary malperfusion, most often right coronary involvement causing inferior changes. Pseudo‑infarction patterns, ST‑deviation, and conduction blocks can occur…

ECG STAT March 12, 2025

Acute Pericarditis

Key Points Diagnostic Challenge: Acute pericarditis symptoms and ECG findings can closely resemble STEMI/ACS, leading to frequent diagnostic uncertainty in acute care. Critical Importance: Rapid and accurate differentiation from STEMI…

Weekly Workout November 27, 2023

Must Know ECGs and Differentials in Patients with Acute Chest Pain or Shortness of Breath

A 63-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department by EMS for chest pain and shortness of breath. The following ECG was obtained:

Weekly Workout August 14, 2023

Wide Complex Tachycardias: review of ventricular rhythms, benign and malignant

A 52-year-old man with PMHx of diabetes presents to the emergency department with chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and cough. He is found to be tachycardic at triage. The following ECG…

Weekly Workout December 5, 2022

ECG Basics & Fundamentals: the value of clinical decisions instruments and what to do when evaluating patients with a concerning chest pain story

A 68-year-old man with PMHx of HTN and cigarette smoking presents to the ED with severe central chest pain and mild shortness of breath for 1 hour. Pain is constant…

Weekly Workout November 27, 2022

The value of obtaining a thorough history of presenting illness in patients with chest pain

A 28-year-old man with no known past medical history presents to the emergency department with central chest pain after being elbowed in the chest while playing football. Pain radiates to…

Weekly Workout January 5, 2015

ECG Basics & Fundamentals: A stepwise approach to ECG interpretation in patients with chest pain and clinical concern for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with pearls and pitfalls in obtaining chest pain histories

HPI: 61 year old male with significant cardiac risk factors presents with chest pain that that radiates down both arms. The pain is exertional and improves with rest. His pain…

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