ECG skills?

[sean wilson]

How important is it to be really good reading the ECG when doing anesthesiology? There are lots of tricky little rules to follow, and while I'd love to know everything, I'm wondering if being decent with ECG is enough for pre-ops, etc.

 

[Tenesma]

as far as i am concerned the anesthesiologist is the cardiologist in the OR setting, so i believe that we should be able to read EKGs as experts and interpret them as experts... that also goes for rhythm strips on telemetry

 

[sandman1]

It is vital that you be able to both interpret and clinically treat patients with abnormal cardiac rhythms. You will see these with some frequency and it is your responsibility to act (or not) on it.

 

[Sensei_Sevo]

I couldn't agree more. Start out with a basic text such as Dubin's Rapid Interpretation of EKGs. Go through the ACLS providers course manual and know the treatment for each of the arrythmias COLD. Also, just a little tidbit for you kids...........if your pt. is having PVCs despite being treated with lidocaine, think low Mg+2.

 

[sandman1]

Also, always remember to turn up your FiO2 on the vent if pt is mechanically ventilated - FmO2 otherwise. 👍

I couldn't agree more. Start out with a basic text such as Dubin's Rapid Interpretation of EKGs. Go through the ACLS providers course manual and know the treatment for each of the arrythmias COLD. Also, just a little tidbit for you kids...........if your pt. is having PVCs despite being treated with lidocaine, think low Mg+2.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

This website is golden for ECG's:
http://medstat.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/

EVERYTHING you could need to learn to read ECG's.

 

[DoctorG]

Thanks for the website, UTSouthwestern 👍