Iatrogenic Ventricular Standstill

Report:

Sinus rhythm 100/min

Ventricular standstill (asystole)

Comment:

Hereby hangs a tale:

The ECG technician ran to my (reporting) room in New York pale and trembling, clutching this trace in obvious fear. A senior Cardiologist saw her taking the routine ECG on the patient with temporary pacemaker and told her to “switch the thing off - it’s a waste of time reporting pacemaker rhythm!” She did - and the recording was taken. The Cardiologist had already strolled off. The patient fainted. There were no CCU sisters around63 (they were usually at Continued Education or Quality Assurance meetings in a side-room). Fortunately, the technician had the sense to switch “the thing” back on and the patient came to life without any (obvious) sequelæ.

I asked for time to look at the rare specimen, telling her I’d bring the ‘EKG’ back to her in five minutes. Which I did - having secretly taken a photocopy - and tore it up in front of her, saying it never happened.

But it did. If someone told me this story I would find it difficult to believe. Marriott was right: ECG is a dangerous examination64.