ECGs

A 70-year-old woman, who had been breathless for several months, was admitted to hospital with chest pain, and this is her ECG. What does it show and what would you do?

A confused 80-year-old woman was sent to hospital from a nursing home because of a collapse. No other history was available, except that she was said to be having treatment for her heart.

A 30-year-old man, who had complained of palpitations for many years without anything abnormal being found, came to the A & E department during an attack, and this ECG was recorded. Apart from signs of marked anxiety there were no unusual findings except a heart rate of 140/min.

A 45-year-old patient is admitted to the A & E department having had severe central chest pain for 1 h. There are no signs of heart failure, and this is his ECG.

A 60-year-old woman is seen in the outpatient department, complaining of breathlessness. There are no abnormal physical findings.

This ECG was recorded from a 20-year-old man who had had attacks of a fast and irregular heartbeat for several years. What is the diagnosis and what would you do next?

A 70-year-old man is sent to the clinic because of rather vague attacks of dizziness, which occur approximately once per week. Otherwise he is well, and there are no abnormalities on examination.

A 60-year-old man complained of severe central chest pain, and a few minutes later became extremely breathless and collapsed. He was brought to the A & E department, where his heart rate was found to be 165/min, his blood pressure was unrecordable and he had signs of left ventricular failure.

A 50-year-old man, who had come to the A & E department with chest pain, collapsed while his ECG was being recorded.

A 60-year-old man is seen in the outpatient department complaining of breathlessness which began quite suddenly 2 months previously. He had had no chest pain.