Emergencies

Results:
ECG STAT January 1, 2026
STEMI Mimics: DDx

Key Points: ST elevation is a pattern, not a diagnosis. STEMI represents one cause of ST elevation and requires correlation with ECG morphology, distribution, evolution, and clinical context. Most ED…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
STEMI vs Severe Hyperkalemia: DDx

Key Points: Severe hyperkalemia is a true ECG chameleon. It can produce ST elevation, wide QRS complexes, axis shifts, and conduction blocks that closely mimic STEMI or ventricular tachycardia. New…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
STEMI vs Acute Pericarditis: DDx

Key Points: Start by looking for STEMI, not pericarditis. The safest workflow is to actively search for occlusion MI features first, then use pericarditis features as supportive evidence. Reciprocal ST…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
Traditional STEMI Criteria

Key Points: STAT ECG is the first decision point in ACS. The primary purpose of the initial ECG is to identify patients who meet traditional STEMI criteria and require immediate…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
ST Depression V1-V4: OMI Pattern

Key Points: Most missed occlusion MI. Isolated posterior occlusion MI is frequently missed because the standard 12-lead ECG often lacks ST elevation. Instead, posterior injury appears as reciprocal anterior ST…

ECG STAT January 1, 2026
STEMI vs Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: DDx

Key Points: Takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy is a transient, non-ischemic LV dysfunction—classically apical ballooning with basal hyperkinesis—often after emotional or physical stress. Presentation mimics occlusion MI (chest pain, ECG changes, elevated…

ECG STAT December 17, 2025
Earliest Evidence of Occlusion MI

Key Points: ACS is dynamic. Coronary arteries can occlude, partially reperfuse, and re-occlude over minutes to hours, and the ECG can show these shifts before biomarkers do. The earliest actionable…

ECG STAT December 17, 2025
ECG Evidence of Reperfusion After Occlusion

Key Points: Reperfusion and re-occlusion can occur spontaneously or after therapy. The ECG often reflects these changes earlier than symptoms. Most useful bedside ECG marker of reperfusion is ST-segment resolution…

ECG STAT December 17, 2025
Early Reciprocal Changes: OMI Pattern

Key Points: STEMI criteria alone miss some acute coronary occlusions, so look for subtle “occlusion clues,” not just traditional STEMI criteria cutoffs. Minor ST elevation under 1 mm paired with…

ECG STAT December 14, 2025
Hypomagnesemia

Key Points: Hypomagnesemia is an important arrhythmogenic electrolyte abnormality. It increases risk of atrial and ventricular ectopy, ventricular tachycardia, and torsades de pointes, especially when QT is prolonged.  The most…

ECG STAT November 23, 2025
Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (ACM)

Key Points: Definition & Terminology:  Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (ACM), previously known as Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia (ARVC/D), is an inherited disorder characterized by progressive fibrofatty replacement of the ventricular myocardium, predominantly…

ECG STAT November 17, 2025
de Winter T Waves: STEMI Equivalent Pattern

Key Points: STEMI Equivalent: The de Winter ECG pattern is an uncommon STEMI equivalent indicative of an unstable proximal occlusion of the LAD (left anterior descending coronary artery). Treat the…

ECG STAT November 11, 2025
Pacemaker & ICD Emergencies

Key Points: Three primary pacemaker malfunctions: Failure to pace – no pacing spike when one is needed. Failure to capture – pacing spike appears but no depolarization follows. Failure to…

ECG STAT November 11, 2025
Himalayan T Waves

Key Points Tall, broad-based T–U fusion that looks like a mountain peak, usually from severe hypokalemia; think high torsades risk until proven otherwise. Hallmark is prolonged repolarization: QT appears long…

ECG STAT November 10, 2025
Pseudo-Wellens Waves

Key Points: Pseudo-Wellens waves are anterior T-wave patterns that mimic the biphasic or deeply inverted T waves of true Wellens syndrome but are caused by non-LAD, non-ischemic physiology. These normal-variant…

ECG STAT November 10, 2025
Wellens Waves

Key Points Wellens waves are anterior precordial T wave abnormalities (biphasic or deeply inverted) most often in V2–V3, occasionally extending to V1 and V4–V6. They signal a high likelihood of…

ECG STAT November 10, 2025
Wellens Syndrome

Key Points Wellens waves are anterior precordial T wave abnormalities (biphasic or deeply inverted) most often in V2–V3, occasionally extending to V1 and V4–V6. They signal a high likelihood of…

ECG STAT October 25, 2025
Ventricular Tachycardia (VT): Core Overview

Key Points: VT is a ventricular-origin rhythm: ≥3 consecutive ventricular beats, QRS >120 ms, rate usually 120–250 bpm. Types include monomorphic VT, polymorphic VT, torsades (PMVT with long QT), ventricular…

ECG STAT October 25, 2025
Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) Mimics

Key Points: Initial Assumption: Any wide (QRS >120 ms), regular tachycardia should be considered ventricular tachycardia (VT) until clearly proven otherwise. VT Characteristics: VT generally has a ventricular rate of…

ECG STAT October 25, 2025
Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (pVT) Arrest

Key Points: Defibrillation First, Minimal Pauses: pVT is rapidly fatal without immediate shocks and high‑quality CPR. Charge defibrillator during compressions and resume compressions immediately after each shock. pVT is a…

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