AFib Overdiagnosis: Dangerous Pitfalls and Safer Reads
ECG Weekly Workout with Dr. Amal Mattu
HPI
A patient presents to the emergency department with new-onset palpitations. He is hemodynamically stable but noted to have an irregular rhythm on arrival. The following ECG is obtained and automatically interpreted by the computer as “atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response”:
Before watching this week’s workout, review the ECG carefully and consider:
- Is the rhythm truly irregularly irregular, or does it show a repeating pattern?
- Do you see any consistent P waves that might change the diagnosis entirely?
- What common mimics of atrial fibrillation could lead to a dangerous misdiagnosis and unnecessary anticoagulation?
