At the end of this case learners should be able to prepare a differential for patients with chest pain, provide appropriate medications for a patient with chest pain, recognize an ST segment elevation MI, and appropriately disposition a patient with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
The initial EKG shows marked elevation of the J-point (point where the QRS segment joins the ST segment), otherwise known as an “Osborn Wave” (see black arrows). A subsequent EKG obtained after active rewarming, showed resolution of the Osborn waves.
The patient was found to be in a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia; he was alert, awake and asymptomatic. A rhythm strip showed a wide complex tachycardia with the QRS complex varying in amplitude around the isoelectric line consistent with Torsades de Pointes.
ECG shows an incomplete right bundle branch block (blue arrow) with coved ST segment elevation and an inverted T wave in V1 (red arrow) and ST segment elevation in V2 (black arrow).
The initial ECG shows a junctional rhythm with Osborn waves (or J point elevations/J waves) in the lateral precordial leads, as well as the limb leads (Image 1). The second ECG, 49 minutes later, shows an improving ventricular rate and Osborn wave height decrease of approximately 50% (Image 2).
Computed tomography (CT) angiogram of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a superior mesenteric artery (SMA) thrombosis 5 cm from the origin off of the abdominal aorta. As seen in the sagittal view, there does not appear to be any contrast 5 cm past the origin of the SMA. On the axial views, you can trace the SMA until the point that there is no longer any contrast visible which indicates the start of the thrombus. The SMA does not appear to be reconstituted. There was normal flow to the celiac artery. (See annotated images).
Video 1 and Image 1 show a thrombus in the patient’s IVC. Video 2 and Images 2-3 demonstrate a positive TAPSE of less than 17mm (blue arrow length) with a significantly dilated RV, indicating abnormal excursion of the tricuspid annulus and right ventricular dysfunction.
At the end of this simulation session the learner will: 1) Recognize clinical history suggestive of cardiogenic syncope, 2) recognize clinical evidence of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, 3) promptly and appropriately treat unstable WPW tachyarrhythmia.
