RT Book, Section A1 Heidenreich, Joseph A2 Stone, C. Keith A2 Humphries, Roger L. SR Print(0) ID 55753892 T1 Chapter 35. Cardiac Arrhythmias T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment Emergency Medicine, 7e YR 2011 FD 2011 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 978-0-0-07-170107-5 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=55753892 RD 2024/03/28 AB Patients with cardiac arrhythmias often present to the emergency department. The patient's clinical presentation determines the urgency with which the assessment and management should proceed. Patients with serious signs and symptoms (ie, shock, hypotension, congestive heart failure (CHF), severe shortness of breath, altered level of consciousness, ischemic chest pain, or acute myocardial infarction) require immediate treatment. With stable patients, more time is afforded for review of the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and rhythm strip to diagnose the cardiac arrhythmia. Review of available prior ECGs may also assist in arrhythmia diagnosis.