1/ Good morning #MedTwitter, it’s time for another episode of #12LeadThursday! Remember to approach every EKG systematically. Grab your calipers, and let’s dive in!
What are potential causes of this pause?
2/ We can think about pauses in three buckets below. We’ll get into why we think a PAC is causing the pause above, but stop for a moment and consider: what would the EKG look like if AVN blockade or sinus node dysfunction were at play?
3/ In the above EKG, we see the PAC hiding in a T wave! This PAC reset the SA node, and a pause was born!
Before we move on: if the AVN is dysfunctional, how do you differentiate a blocked PAC from a dropped beat?
4/ In AV block, the P-P interval is constant. The single or intermittently dropped beats occur at regular conduction intervals such as 3:2, 4:3, 5:4.
For non-conducted PACs, the P-P is altered, but not consistent.
1/ Good morning, #medtwitter, and happy Thursday! We’re excited to bring you our latest edition of #ReadingRoom. Dim the lights, and get ready to clinically correlate!
You’ve got two abdominal plain films below. Which one is from a patient with a SBO?
2/ Let’s take a closer look, starting with the image on the right: here, there’s no abnormal dilation and the distribution of gas is normal. This is a normal abdominal film.
3/ On the other hand, here we see an abnormally dilated small bowel with predominant small bowel gas while there is no rectal gas and scant colonic gas. This is concerning for a SBO.
1/ Good morning, #MedTwitter, and happy Tuesday! We’re excited to bring you our latest installment of #ReadingRoom today. Dim the lights; it’s time to clinically correlate!
What object is labeled in the CXR below? What is it used for?
2/ That, friends, is our dear friend: the NG tube. It is our portal for tube feeds and PO meds (technically Per Nasus?), or if you put the thing down flip it and reverse it you can use the NGT to decompress the stomach.
3/ Next question: should you place that order that says “OK to use NG tube”?
The graphic below shows a systematic approach to ensure correct placement. This one is good to go!
Take a look at this ECG. Approach it systematically. What do you see?
2/ In the above ECG, you’ve got an irregular narrow complex tachycardia. What’s your final read? Reply with your reasoning!
3/ Let’s take a closer look. In the graphic below, we’ve highlighted what you would expect to see in flutter - and none of it is present here. Our patient is fibbin’ away, folks.