Hyperkalemia:
- Distinctive sequence of ECG changes affecting both depolarization (QRS) and repolarization (ST-T)
- First change: Narrowing and peaking of T-waves ('tented' or 'pinched' shape) and can become tall
Hyperkalemia:
- Further elevation: PR intervals become prolonged, P-waves may disappear. Will have intra-ventricular conduction delay, with widening of QRS complexes.
- Can lead to large, undulating (sine wave) pattern with asystole and cardiac death
Hyperkalemia ECG:
- Nice example from Life in the Fast Lane (litfl.com/hyperkalaemia-…)
- Can see: prolonged PR interval, broad QRS, and peaked T-waves
Hypokalemia:
- Produces distinctive changes in the ST-T complex; most common with ST-depressions with prominent U-waves and prolong repolarization
- U-waves may even exceed the height of the T-waves
- Can be challenging to measure the QT intervals
Hypokalemia EKG:
- Nice EKG from Life in the Fast Lane (litfl.com/hypokalaemia-e…)
- Note: Widespread ST depression and T wave inversion, Prominent U waves, Long QU interval
- Reported K~1.7
Hypercalcemia:
- Shortened QT interval is due to shortening of ST-segment.
- T-waves may appear to take off from the end of the QRS complex
- High Calcium can lead to coma/ death
Hypercalcemia EKG:
- Nice EKG from Life in the Fast Lane (litfl.com/hypercalcaemia…)
- Note hypercalcemia causing marked shortening of the QT interval (260ms)
Hypocalcemia:
- Lengthens or prolongs the QT intervals
- Example of a patient with prolonged QTc in the setting of hypoparathyoidism
Hypomagnesemia:
- Can be attributed to GI or renal losses (diuretic)
- Implicated in ventricular arrhythmias with acute MI and Torsade de Points
- Should have aggressive IV Magnesium replacement if needed
- EKG (litfl.com/hypomagnesaemi…) with an example of NSVT
***Not to use for clinical care, just educational material**
Thanks to these websites for the amazing graphics!
Pre-Rounding Tips 3d: How to think about Troponin? (
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Pro-Tip: If you can print out a pre-rounding sheet with the labs auto-populated, that is always helpful.
One of the most common consults from the Emergency Room to Cardiology is 'elevated troponin.'
Yes, elevated troponin can be scary, but here is the framework that I use to analyze / consider troponin.
1. Patient Presentation? 2. Patient's risk factors and prior cardiac history? 3. What is the troponin trend? 4. What does the ECG look like? 5. What are some non-cardiac reasons troponin may be elevated?
1. Patient Presentation?
In Cardiology, the clinical presentation is the most important part of the story when determining the significance of an elevated troponin! In many situations, clinical decisions (whether to pursue a LHC) may be made in the absence of having a troponin available.
Key Questions: 1. If the patient presents with chest pain, how does he/she describe it?
- Some common worrisome symptoms associated with angina. Elevated troponin in the setting of these symptoms should always be taken seriously.
a) Chest pressure, constant, sub-sternal.
b) Radiation of pain to the neck or jaw
c) Diaphoresis
d) Numbness to the left arm
e) New onset dyspnea
f) Worse with exertion, better with rest
2. What makes the pain better?
- If the patient got improvement with nitroglycerin more likely to be consistent with cardiac chest pain.
- If patient's pain improves with muscle relaxers, IV toradol, IV PPI, IV Ativan, less likely to be a cardiac etiology.
3. Has the patient had this type of pain before?
- If similar recent presentation with a negative work-up, this might be reassuring. However, you don't want to have anchor bias and should keep an open perspective.
When I was an intern, pre-rounding was one of the most stressful parts of the day. I would take too long and be inefficient. Part 1.
Now as a PGY7 (long-time, right?), here is 3 parts of my system that I use for new patients.
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1) Why is the patient here / chief concern?
- This seems like the most basic question that is often overlooked. What made the patient decide to leave his/her house to come to the hospital?
- When reading the overnight H&P, the abundance of clinical documentation can create confusion.
- Simplicity is key. What is the chief concern? Is it chest pain? Is it dyspnea on exertion? Knowing this information will help frame your thoughts.
2) What are the relevant past medical problems?
- Most patients will have chronic medical problems that will contribute to the current presentation.
- It is easy to get lost in the weeds of this presentation. In Cardiology, I typically focus on (but not limited to) coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, history of CVA. Again, this is not all inclusive but it is a start.
- Although patients may present to the hospital with a new diagnosis, it is more likely that the presentation may be an exacerbation of a previous problem.