Brought in an 80's male for dizziness/ near syncope with a witnessed fall backwards with head strike.never fully lost consciousness per the witness. Demented and A&O×1 baseline, no increased confusion. No complaints but the PT is obviously a poor historian. Skin signs are surprisingly great with good distal perfusion. Pressure is 130's/80's with regular breathing at 20. Minor skin tear to his elbow but otherwise no notable trauma or tenderness. No recent illnesses. History of HTN, diabetes, and hyperlip. Takes clopidigrel but family denies cardiac history. He's full code.. so I call this a wide complex 3rd degree and am putting pads on debating whether to pace this before he codes, I look back and he converted to a sinus tach with a LBBB. No changes in presentation. Stays the same throughout the entire 20 minute transport. Capno between 28 and 30 with RR 20-24. 94%RA. PT can participate in most of a neuro exam, no objective unilateral deficits.
I was thinking more cardiac than potential Cushings even with the head strike and thinners. Considered modified Sgarbossa with new onset LBBB, clinically significant ST elevation in V2 and V3 (hard to tell with Zoll's amplitude filter) and reciprocal changes in high and low laterals, or just strain pattern.
Hospital follow up dx: subarachnoid bleed, and a heart block. ER doc called the original 3 lead sinus brady with junctional escape beats (sure thing doc lol)
It doesnt make sense how he just spontaneously converted like that. I think the 3rd degree was the cause of the fall. Im wondering if he didnt convert if my pacing would have been justified despite the traumatic component.