The Post-Thanksgiving Rhythm You Cannot Miss
ECG Weekly Workout with Dr. Amal Mattu
HPI
A 48-year-old woman presents two days after Thanksgiving with severe weakness, palpitations, and mild chest discomfort. Her ECG appears to show a very wide complex regular tachycardia at 119 bpm.
Before watching this week’s workout, review the arrival ECG carefully and consider:
- The ECG shows a regular wide complex tachycardia. Should you assume this is ventricular tachycardia and treat it as VT?
- Are there any rapid bedside maneuvers that can help distinguish true VT from other causes of a regular wide complex tachycardia?
- What common holiday overindulgences could precipitate a rhythm like this in a patient with underlying renal disease?
