Flashback Friday: Lumps and Bumps: Can’t-Miss Diagnoses in Syncope

Dr. Jeremy Berberian joins EMRA*Cast with Alex Kaminsky to delve deeper into the pathophysiology and electrical findings associated with diagnoses such as WPW, Brugada and ARVD. Lumps and Bumps: Can't-Miss Diagnoses in Syncope  Host: Alex Kaminsky Guest: Jeremy Berberian, MD Associate Director of Resident Education, ChristianaCare Editor-in-chief: EMRA EKG Guide, EMRA Ortho Guide, and the upcoming Emergency ECGs: Case-Based Review and Interpretations, with Amal Mattu and William Brady Faculty editor: EM Resident Monthly ECG Challenge Creator: ECG Greeting Cards©, a collaboration with MPP and JerBer Productions EPISODE OVERVIEWResidents are well-programmed to recognize cardiovascular emergencies such as STEMIs at a glance. However, during a busy shift it can be easy to overlook dysrhythmias and other electrophysiologic urgencies and emergencies. Syncope is a prime example of a chief complaint that may be uncovered with an EKG alone -- however, syncopal emergencies are often subtle and nuanced. Dr. Berberian joins EMRA*Cast with Alex Kaminsky to delve deeper into the pathophysiology and electrical findings associated with diagnoses such as WPW, Brugada, ARVD and more. KEY POINTS Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Prevalence: 0.7 to 1.7 per 10000 OverviewAccessory Pathway Connecting the atria to the ventricle. In some instances, this can cause the accessory pathway to travel FASTER than through the AV node. Orthodromic (Narrow): Travels down the AV node (can bypass) Antidromic (Wide): Bypasses AV node and UP the his-purkinje system.   Courtesy of CardioNetworks: Free use image Key Features:  Image: Courtesy of EMRA EKG Guide Short PR (less than 120ms) “Delta” wave -- which is a “slurring” of the QRS complex QRS might be “a little” wide (still <120ms) Often secondary ST-T wave changes. Most common presentation is SVT. But also can present as atrial fibrillation. TreatmentOrthodromic (Narrow): Treat like SVT Key Point: Procainamide is the most safe chemical cardioversion in WPW as it does not directly affect the AV node. Use of AV-nodal blockers in WPW (including Amiodarone) increases the risk of VT/VF. ***Blocking the AV node in a WPW patient in Atrial Fibrillation can precipitate bad ventricular rhythms. If you see A-fib GREATER than 220 minus age -- consider WPW.*** Antidromic (Wide): Treat Like V-Tach Brugada SyndromePrevalence: 5 in 10,000. Traditionally taught more common in Southeast Asian populations. OverviewSodium Channelopathy, which can lead to unstable dysrhythmias and ultimately cardiac death Key Features Diagnosis is made both by EKG and clinical criteria     Images: Courtesy of EMRA EKG Guide Type 1: “Coved” ST-Elevation >2mm with a negatively deflected T in right precordial leads (V1-V3) Potentially diagnostic as isolated EKG finding. Type 2: ST elevation in right precordial leads (V1-V3) with a “saddleback.” Within the STE.   Not completely diagnostic but concerning fr workup.   Clinical Criteria (EKG Findings PLUS one or more): SYNCOPE Nocturnal Agonal Respirations Brugada gets WORSE with parasympathetic stimuli. Family member with known Type 1 Observed/Documented VT/VF Sudden cardiac death in family member <45 (Take that history!)   Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy (ARVD) Prevalence: Unknown, likely more than we thought. Mean age is 31. Also we don't have great clinical criteria to full encompass this -- yet. Multiple genes linked to disease process. Variable inheritance patterns. OverviewFibro-Fatty infiltration of the myocardium that replaces good "conductive" tissue with fibrinous infiltrates. Think: "Kinda like cirrhosis of the heart." Causes paroxysmal ventricular rhythms. Can present as CHF. Key Features Image: Courtesy of EMRA EKG Guide   Epsilon wave -- AKA "The Ditzle or Nubbin" (only in 30% of patients) T-wave inversions in right precordial leads (V1-V3) -- (85% of patients) Long S-wave repolarization delay >55ms (in 95% of patients) Slightly prolonged QRS >110ms (Right precordial leads) VT looks more like a Left-bundle morphology -- Appreciate that AFTER the patient is out of VT.   Key Resources: *If needed and/or different than references* EMRA EKG Guide Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Evaluation and Management of Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Syncope: Huff J.S., Decker W.W., Quinn J.V., Perron A.D., Napoli A.M., Peeters S., Jagoda A.S.( 2007)  Annals of Emergency Medicine,  49 (4) , pp. 431-444. Epidemiological profile of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in a general population younger than 50 years of age in an era of radiofrequency catheter ablation. Lu C.-W., Wu M.-H., Chen H.-C., Kao F.-Y., Huang S.-K. (2014)  International Journal of Cardiology,  174  (3) , pp. 530-534. Reference, G. (2019). Brugada syndrome. [online] Genetics Home Reference. Available at: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/brugada-syndrome#statistics [Accessed 14 Feb. 2019]. McNally E, MacLeod H, Dellefave-Castillo L. Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy. 2005 Apr 18 [Updated 2017 May 25]. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2019. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1131/