waulen2980

And he has completely avoid our concerns. Waulen, you probably do not have a law suit. If you really are interested in filing one against the medics, get your records and have them reviewed by a lawyer. Trying to get medicolegal advice from an anonymous internet forum is probably not the best way to go about it. You could check out these sites:

http://www.mdjunctio...general-support (be sure to check out the embalmed groin thread)

http://www.expertlaw...isplay.php?f=82

http://www.lawyercen...cs.cfm?Forum=35

Maybe you can find out on those forums if you will get your lottery ticket.

Why would I sue the medics? I would be a third-party to the event, if that. Besides, they were doing their jobs. I was merely asking why they chose that particular treatment and wanted to hear it from EMT's. I suppose I could have just taken it for face-value, popped open another manual for EKG interpretation, and moved on to something else.

Why I am posting questions like these here you ask? I don't need to, I can ask the EMT's in-person I suppose. The treating physician said that the adenosine was unneccesary that is why I kept thinking about it. Additionally, these forums catch a wider audience and thus, more diverse analysis.

Given the reaction from some of you, I will posit that these types of questions are unwelcomed and I will discontinue. My appologies to anyone I have upset.

Thanks for all the responses! I have another case I want to ask a question about from last night. I'll post in next thread...

One way to figure out if this is a sinus tach due to exercise versus SVT is to wait a few minutes. If this is sinus tach from the exercising then the heart rate should go down relatively quickly. If it is SVT then time will have no affect and he will be a constant 170. With SVT there is also very little variation in the rate, it will be 170. With a sinus tach there will be some variability to the rate.

True, but if he was in a panic and adrenaline was surging, his HR would probably remain elevated at or near whatever his post aerobic HR was. Not sure if you have ever personally experienced that feeling, but I can tell you both from personal experience and what I've seen so far, you take someone in full flight or fight mode and their HR is not going south until you administer a sedative or in this case; adenosine.

An SVT is a supra ventricular tachycardia. All that means is that the originating pacemaker is located above the AV node. Since a sinus beat originates above the AV node, it is an SVT, provided that it's a tachycardia of course. There are several types of SVTs, Sinus Tach is but one. ERDOC makes a good point that I was thinking but forgot to type. I wasn't there, I can only make a few assumptions which don't really include the whole story.

Ok, I see now. Thanks for explaining, I was confused about SVT and Sinus Tach. As per the patient in question, the whole episode he had was very similiar to the panic attacks I've seen in the ER. The only unusual circumstance is that he had one while exercising which according to internet literature, seems to be more common than I thought. I'm deducing this to be some sort of hypochondria episode involving the heart. Ahh psych, that's a whole other topic!

Thanks for the responses! Just want to be clear, I am not implying anything negative about EMT's with the question only fact-finding.

Also, I'm a little unclear about how EMT's are distinguishing SVT's from Sinus Tachycardia. If 170 BPM was automatically considered SVT, then would everyone who exercises an gets to 170 be having an SVT? I was taught it was distinguishable by the P-wave being present or not.

Hi All,

I'm a medical student and recently was at the ER doing observations. I have a question for EMT's:

Here is case:

27 Yr old male, otherwise healthy, brought into ER with what EMT's described as sinus tachycardia according to their EKG. The story was the individual said he had been out jogging and became alarmed at his high pulse rate. Max HR at 170 BPM, BP @ 135/74. He was given 6mg of Adenosine to slow HR which according to them; worked temporarily.

Once in ER, patient described no occurances of chest pains or shortness of breath at any time.

Blood work, chest x ray, and EKG, all normal.

Drug urinalysis- negative

Patient complained of constant waves of anxiety which precipitated an increase in HR of about 110-120. Ativan 1 MG was administered and condition improved significantly and discharge was made approx. 3 hours after arrival.

Sorry for the long story, I wanted to give the whole picture.

My question: Why was adenosine given to someone with aside from the fast heart beat, normal sinus rhythm?

My understanding is that Adenosine is primarily used for SVT alone.