Complex Electrocardiographic Interpretation in an Acutely Ill Patient With Hemodynamic Compromise
Abstract
Scenario: A 68-year-old man with a history of hypertension and chronic kidney disease came to the emergency department (ED) with acute respiratory distress. He had experienced intermittent labored breathing starting 3 days earlier that had become persistent the preceding night, so he came to the ED that morning. At presentation, he was febrile (39.2 °C), tachypneic (28/min), tachycardic (110-150/min), hypotensive (88/54 mm Hg), and restless. Oxygen was administered at 4 L/min via nasal cannula (oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry, 92%). Point-of-care lactate level was 3.9 mmol/L (normal, 0.5-2.0 mmol/L), sodium 140 mEq/L (normal, 135-145 mEq/L), and potassium 3.3 mEq/L (normal, 3.5-5.2 mEq/L). High-sensitivity troponin was 15 ng/L (normal,
Fields of Study & Subjects
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Associated Phenomena
Pericarditis and Cardiac Tamponade
Potassium and Related Disorders
Publication details
- Journal / source
- American Journal of Critical Care
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 83–84
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN