Top ten electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities not to miss

Abstract

This chapter presents ten cases with characteristic electrocardiographic (ECG) findings that should not be missed. The first case demonstrates the chronological ECG changes seen during ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. The case presenting sinus node dysfunction (SND) highlights the various ECG manifestations of SND. The case of atrioventricular (AV) block highlights the approach to the diagnosis of 2:1 AV block. The case of Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome describes the diagnostic ECG criteria for WPW syndrome and the supraventricular tachycardias associated with it. The wide complex tachycardia (WCT) case presents a stepwise algorithmic approach to the diagnosis of WCT. The case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy focuses on risk stratification for sudden death. We present the characteristic ECG findings in patients with Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome, and early repolarization syndrome that are causes of sudden death in young patients without structural heart disease. Finally, we present the approach to the diagnosis of artifact on the ECG that is important to prevent expensive workups and unnecessary treatments.