Podcast # 359: Normal EKG

Author: Sam Killian, MD.

Educational Pearls:

 

• Computer interpretation has a very good negative predictive value of a normal EKG (99%).

• Of 222 interpreted as "normal," 13 were deemed to have some abnormality by a cardiologist in a recent study.

• Those 13 EKG's were read by 2 ER docs, and only 1 missed interpretation warranted a move from triage to a bed.

 

References

Katie E. Hughes KE., Scott M. Lewis SM., Laurence Katz and Jonathan Jones  Safety of Computer Interpretation of Normal Triage Electrocardiograms. 2017. Academic Emergency Medicine 24(1):120-124. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acem.13067/full.