Core

Results:
ECG STAT August 12, 2025
Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardia (Idiopathic Left Fascicular VT)

Key Points Idiopathic reentrant VT arising within the left Purkinje system, most often the left posterior fascicle. Patients are usually young and lack structural heart disease. Signature ECG: RBBB-like morphology…

ECG STAT August 7, 2025
Opiate Toxicity

Key Point Opioid overdose causes life-threatening respiratory depression leading to hypoxia, altered mental status, bradycardia, hypotension, and potentially death. While most cardiovascular effects are secondary to hypoxia, methadone toxicity uniquely…

ECG STAT August 7, 2025
Methamphetamine Toxicity

Key Point Methamphetamine is a powerful sympathomimetic that causes a massive catecholamine surge, it can result in life-threatening cardiovascular and neurologic complications. Toxicity can present with MI, arrhythmias, stroke, hypertensive…

ECG STAT August 7, 2025
Beta-Blocker and Calcium Channel Blocker Toxicity

Key Point BBs and CCBs are widely prescribed but overdoses can cause life-threatening bradycardia, AV block, hypotension, and shock. Differentiating between them is important, but both require early recognition, aggressive…

ECG STAT August 7, 2025
Cocaine Toxicity

Key Point Cocaine is a powerful sympathomimetic with profound cardiovascular (CV) effects. Even recreational or first-time use can precipitate life-threatening complications, including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, arrhythmias, and aortic dissection….

ECG STAT August 1, 2025
Irregularly Irregular Rhythm: Basics

Key Points: Definition: An irregularly irregular rhythm occurs when the R-R intervals or P-P intervals vary with no consistent pattern, making the rhythm unpredictable and abnormal. Clinical Significance: Identifying an…

ECG STAT August 1, 2025
Regularly Irregular Rhythm: Basics

Key Points: Definition: A regularly irregular rhythm occurs when the distance between R-R intervals or P-P intervals varies in a consistent, repeating pattern throughout the ECG tracing. Significance: Determining the…

ECG STAT August 1, 2025
Regular Rhythm: Basics

Key Points: Rhythm Regularity: Regular rhythm is characterized by equal distances between consecutive P waves (P-P intervals) and QRS complexes (R-R intervals). Verify rhythms with calipers—don’t trust the machine interpretation…

ECG STAT August 1, 2025
Heart Rate & Rhythm Interpretation

Key Points: Treat the patient, not just the number or rhythm. Start with a 10-second stability check. If the rhythm explains hypotension, shock, ischemic chest pain, altered mentation, or severe…

ECG STAT August 1, 2025
Sinus Arrhythmia

Key Points Definition: Phasic variation in sinus rate with respiration. P-P intervals shorten on inspiration and lengthen on expiration, producing a mild, patterned irregularity. Diagnostic threshold: Difference between the shortest…

ECG STAT August 1, 2025
R-on-T Phenomenon

Key Points Definition: The R on T phenomenon occurs when an ectopic impulse (often a PVC or cardioversion shock) falls on the T wave of the preceding beat. Mechanism: Interrupting…

ECG STAT August 1, 2025
Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia (MAT)

Key Points Definition: Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia (MAT) is a rare type of irregularly irregular supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) characterized by the presence of at least three or more different P wave…

ECG STAT August 1, 2025
Right Ventricular STEMI: Criteria & Pitfalls

Key Points: RV involvement accompanies up to ~40% of inferior STEMIs; isolated RV infarction is uncommon but high-impact when missed. Think RV MI when inferior STEMI is present and you…

ECG STAT July 25, 2025
Toxicologic Emergencies

Key Points: ECG as a Critical Diagnostic Tool: In toxicology, the ECG is often the first and most reliable clue. Early recognition of drug-induced conduction disturbances or arrhythmias can guide…

ECG STAT July 17, 2025
Terminal QRS Distortion: OMI Pattern

Key Points: What it is: In V2 or V3, there is no S wave (the R does not descend below the PQ baseline) and no J wave (no notch/slur at…

ECG STAT July 16, 2025
Digoxin Toxicity

Key Points Narrow therapeutic window: Small dosing errors or renal decline can push serum digoxin above the safe range. Excess automaticity + AV block: Toxicity increases atrial and ventricular irritability…

ECG STAT July 15, 2025
QRS Axis Interpretation: Basics

Key Points: Definition: The QRS axis reflects the net direction of ventricular depolarization and is expressed in degrees on the frontal plane. Why It Matters: Axis assessment is a fast,…

ECG STAT July 15, 2025
Extreme Axis Deviation: Basics

Key Points Definition: Extreme axis deviation (aka “Northwest Axis”) occurs when the QRS axis is between –90° and ±180°. ECG Clue: QRS negative in Lead I QRS negative in Lead…

ECG STAT July 15, 2025
Left Axis Deviation: Basics

Key Points Definition: LAD occurs when the QRS axis is between –30° and –90°. ECG Pattern: QRS positive in Lead I QRS negative in Lead aVF Clinical Use: LAD can…

ECG STAT July 15, 2025
Indeterminate QRS Axis: Basics

Key Points Definition: An indeterminate QRS axis (also called “no man’s land”) occurs when the frontal QRS vector lies between –90° and ±180°, but no dominant direction is evident. ECG…

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