Life Savers
Latest
Post-Cardiac Arrest ECGs Hub
Key Points: The first post-ROSC ECG is essential but imperfect. Obtain it immediately, but interpret it in context. Global ischemia, defibrillation, acidosis, hypothermia, vasopressors, artifact, and severe metabolic derangements can…
Post-Arrest STEMI: Cath Lab Decisions
Key Points: Persistent ST elevation after ROSC remains a guideline-supported indication for emergency coronary angiography. The 2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI ACS guideline recommends emergency angiography for patients after cardiac arrest with suspected…
Post-Arrest No STEMI: When Cath Can Wait
Key Points: Stable post-arrest patients without ST elevation should not go to reflex immediate cath solely because cardiac arrest occurred. Randomized trials in OHCA patients without ST elevation have not…
Pediatric ECG in Cardiac Arrest
Key Points: Pediatric arrest is usually respiratory, hypoxic, or shock-related, not primary coronary occlusion. The ECG still matters because it can reveal reversible metabolic, toxicologic, structural, inflammatory, or inherited electrical…
New RBBB + LAFB (Bifascicular Block) in ACS: OMI Pattern
Key Points: In a patient with ischemic symptoms, new RBBB + LAFB should raise concern for proximal LAD or septal ischemia until proven otherwise, especially if the patient has ongoing…
Dysrhythmias in LVAD Patients
Key Points: Continuous-flow LVADs can mask cardiovascular collapse. Patients may remain awake during sustained VT or even VF because the pump can provide temporary flow. Treat the rhythm and the…
Pediatric ECG Red Flags
Key Points: Any wide QRS (>90 ms) in an infant or small child is abnormal and should trigger evaluation for VT, sodium-channel blockade, or conduction disease. QTc >450 ms in…
Severe Hypothermia
Key Points: Severe hypothermia causes predictable ECG slowing and conduction delay. Sinus bradycardia, PR/QRS/QT prolongation, and atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular response are common as core temperature falls. Osborn…
Computer Interpreted “Normal” ECGs
Key Points: Do not trust a computer read of “normal” without your own review. Computer interpretation is especially unreliable for subtle or early ischemia, including hyperacute T waves, minimal ST…
STEMI vs Wide QRS (BBBs & Paced Rhythms): DDx
Key Points: Wide QRS rhythms distort repolarization. Bundle branch block and ventricular pacing create secondary ST-T changes even without occlusion MI. Appropriate discordance is expected. ST segments and T waves…
South African Flag Sign: OMI Pattern
Key Points: Pattern: The South African Flag sign is the combination of ST elevation in I, aVL, and V2 with reciprocal ST depression in III. It is a subtle but…
Occlusion MI in Ventricular Paced Rhythms: STEMI Equivalent Pattern
Key Points: Ventricular paced rhythms can mask acute coronary occlusion. Pacing alters depolarization and produces expected secondary ST-T abnormalities, so standard STEMI criteria are unreliable. Appropriate discordance is expected in…
The Life Savers: Critical ECGs Hub
Key Points: Life Savers are the can’t-miss ECGs. These patterns may reflect immediately life-threatening ischemic, electrical, mechanical, obstructive, toxicologic, or metabolic emergencies. This hub is built for rapid action. Use…
Occlusion MI in Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB): STEMI Equivalent Pattern
Key Points: LBBB does not exclude acute coronary occlusion. LBBB produces abnormal depolarization and expected secondary ST-T changes, which can mask or mimic ischemia. Acute OMI can still be recognized…
Electrical Alternans
Key Points: Electrical alternans is a beat-to-beat alternation in QRS amplitude, axis, or both. It is classically associated with a large pericardial effusion and may support concern for tamponade, but…
STEMI vs LVH: DDx
Key Points: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with strain is one of the most common and dangerous STEMI mimics, particularly in the anterior leads, and is a frequent cause of false-positive…
Pericardial Tamponade
Key Points: Pericardial tamponade is a hemodynamic diagnosis, not just an ECG diagnosis. ECG may show sinus tachycardia, low-voltage QRS, and sometimes electrical alternans, but none are sensitive enough to…
Modified Sgarbossa Criteria: STEMI Equivalent Pattern
Key Points: LBBB and ventricular-paced rhythms can hide acute coronary occlusion because abnormal depolarization creates expected secondary ST-T changes. Occlusion MI can still be recognized when those ST changes are…
Isorhythmic AV Dissociation
Key Points: Isorhythmic AV dissociation is a form of AV dissociation in which the sinus rate and junctional or ventricular escape rate are nearly identical, making the P waves and…
Third-Degree AV Block (Complete Heart Block)
Key Points: Third-degree AV block is complete failure of atrial impulses to conduct to the ventricles. The defining ECG feature is AV dissociation with no conducted P waves. The atrial…
Free Content
Jump on our email list for free tips and insights delivered to your inbox monthly. No spam - just quick pearls and ECG education.
Categories
- No categories
© 2026 ECG Weekly. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Powered by the member(dev) platform
Loading...