Case 41: A 48-Year-Old Man with Palpitation
History
Diagnosis
ECG 2
ECG 2 Diagnosis
ECG 3
ECG 3 Diagnosis
History
This 48-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department complaining of palpitation that had started suddenly 1 hour earlier, associated with dyspnea and weakness. He had experienced 3-4 episodes of palpitation in the past 15 years, that lasted 30-60 minutes and subsided spontaneously. He had otherwise enjoyed a good health and exercised frequently without symptoms.
Diagnosis
- Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response (182/min)
- Wide QRS (150 ms), except for one narrower complex. The pattern of the wide QRS is compatible with conduction through a left anterolateral accessory pathway (Q waves in I and aVL, broad prominent R wave in V1). The narrower complex has a delta wave in leads II and V5.
ECG 2
As atrial fibrillation with conduction through an accessory bypass pathway was suspected, the patient was treated with IV Amiodarone.
Sinus rhythm was restored:
ECG 2 Diagnosis
- Sinus rhythm
- Wolff-Parkinson-White
- The presence of q waves (negative delta waves) in I and aVL and positive delta waves with prominent R waves in aVF and V1 are typical of a left anterolateral bypass
ECG 3
EP studies confirmed the presence of a left lateral accessory pathway that was successfully ablated. The following is the post-ablation ECG:
ECG 3 Diagnosis
- Sinus rhythm
- Normal ECG
ECG ID: E493