EMERGENCY CASEBOOKS
An unusual case of misdiagnosed ventricular tachycardia
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
Correspondence to:
Dr C Boos, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK; christopherboos{at}hotmail.com
We present the case of a 71-year-old man, with known Parkinsons disease and previous coronary artery bypass surgery, who presented with acute chest pain. His initial 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was unremarkable; however, a repeat 12 lead ECG during further chest pain suggested a ventricular tachycardia (VT) for which he was commenced on an intravenous amiodarone infusion. However, later analysis of his ECGs revealed that the apparent VT was, in fact, an artefact related to his parkinsonian tremor.
Relevant Article
- Primary survey
- Darren Walter
Emerg. Med. J. 2008 25: 125.[Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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