Question:
56 year-old woman presents to the local ED frightened. She has a history of anxiety and is on no medications.
Interpret this EKG
Answer
1. Sinus tachycardia at 107/min
2. Incorrect electrode placement, specifically RA/LA transposition
3. Otherwise normal EKG
Learning Points:
Fright accounts for her sinus tachycardia. With RA/LA transposition lead I is inverted, lead II looks like lead III, aVR like aVL, aVL like aVR, aVF and V1-V6 are unchanged. This arm lead transposition does not account for QRS voltage in V3-V6 which is due to breast attenuation. The R/S ratio increasing from V1-V6 is one clue that this is not dextrocardia.
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