Editor’s Note: Check out this month’s ECG case study and submit your treatment plan in the comments below. Get it right and you could win an EMS1 T-shirt and bottle opener. Good luck!
UPDATED: 07/12/2011 - Patient Follow-Up Posted. CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWER
EMS is called to a local volunteer medical clinic for a 35 year old Spanish-speaking female complaining of palpitations.
On arrival the patient is found sitting in a chair in an exam room. Through an interpreter she advises EMS that she has a history of arrhythmias but she does not take any medications. She denies any other medical history.
Her skin is pink, warm and moist. She admits to mild dyspnea and a little bit of chest discomfort that she describes as tightness.
Breath sounds are clear bilaterally.
Vital signs are assessed.
RR: 20
Pulse: Very rapid
NIBP: 127/68
SpO2: Does not register
The patient is placed on the cardiac monitor.
A 12-lead ECG is captured with the following computer measurements.
HR: 174
PR: 0
QRS: 82
QT/QTc: 250/425
P-QRS-T: 0 67 -69
What do you think of this 12-lead ECG?
How would you treat this patient and why?