Cardiology Emergencies

Question 1

STEMI or NSTEMI
Unstable angina
Arrhythmias
Bradycardias: sinus bradycardia, av conduction block, sick sinus syndrome
Tachycardias: af, a-fib, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, sinus tachycardia, v-fib, ventricular tachycardia,
PE
Pulmonary edema
Hypertensive crisis
Cardiac tamponade

Question 2

What are the symptoms of a STEMI?

Answer 2

Crushing chest pain that radiates to left arm, back, jaw

Sweating, nausea, anxiety, palpitations, dizziness

Onset ranges from few minutes to hours

Question 3

What does an anterior/septal STEMI look like on ECG?

Answer 3

ST elevation in leads V1-V4

Reciprocal ST depression in II, III, aVF (inferior leads)

Question 4

If a patient has an anterior/septal STEMI, which coronary artery is affected?

Answer 4

Left anterior descending (LAD) artery

Question 5

What does a lateral STEMI look like on ECG?

Answer 5

ST elevation in leads V5, V6 and I, aVL

Reciprocal ST depression in II, III and aVF (inferior leads)

Question 6

If a patient has a lateral STEMI, what coronary artery is affected?

Answer 6

Left circumflex artery: ST elevation seen in V5, V6 and I, aVL

Diagonal branch of Left anterior descending artery: ST elevation seen in I and aVL only

Question 7

What does an inferior STEMI look like on ECG?

Answer 7

ST elevation: II, III, aVF

Reciprocal ST depression: I, aVL (some lateral leads)

Question 8

If a patient has an inferior STEMI, what coronary artery is affected?

Answer 8

Right coronary artery (RCA): Most common

Left circumflex artery

Question 9

What does a posterior STEMI look like on ECG?i

Answer 9

ST elevation: V7,V8,V9 (posterior leads)

Reciprocal ST depression: V1,V2,V3,V4 (anterior septal leads)

Question 10

If a patient has a posterior STEMI, what coronary artery is affected?

Answer 10

Posterior descending artery

Left circumflex artery