Author: Ahmed Alahmad / Editor: Stephen Sheridan / Codes: CC3, SLO1 / Published: 04/06/2026
A 41-year-old female presents to the emergency department with a six-month history of intermittent palpitations. Each episode lasts approximately one to two minutes and resolves spontaneously. She reports that the palpitations occur randomly, sometimes at rest, and are occasionally associated with lightheadedness.
Over the past six months, she has attended the emergency department twice with similar symptoms but was discharged without a definitive diagnosis. One week ago, she experienced a sudden collapse while walking in the park with a friend. She does not recall the details of the event, but her friend describes a brief loss of consciousness lasting only a few seconds, with spontaneous recovery and no post-ictal confusion. Concerned, she visits her general practitioner, who performs an ECG (Fig.1) and urgently refers her to hospital for further assessment.
On admission, her vital signs are stable: blood pressure 125/84 mmHg, pulse 70 beats per minute, respiratory rate 12 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation 99% on room air.
Cardiovascular examination reveals normal heart sounds with no murmurs, added sounds, or signs of heart failure. She reports no chest pain, shortness of breath, or recent illness. Her medical history is unremarkable, and she takes no regular or over-the-counter medications. She smokes ten cigarettes per day but denies alcohol or recreational drug use. There is a family history of her mother dying from a brain tumour at age 65, but no known cardiac disease or sudden death.
One Response
Excellent Revision