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Ventricular Tachycardia: ECG Interpretation Cheat Sheet
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is one of the most important arrhythmias to recognize on ECG. It is a potentially life-threatening rhythm that originates from the ventricles and can rapidly lead to hemodynamic collapse, cardiac arrest, or degeneration into ventricular fibrillation. Because VT often presents as a wide-complex tachycardia, prompt recognition is critical. This cheat sheet highlights…
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VT vs. SVT with Aberration: ECG Interpretation Cheat Sheet
Wide-complex tachycardia is one of the most important ECG patterns to recognize quickly. The key clinical question is simple: is this ventricular tachycardia, or is it supraventricular tachycardia with aberrant conduction? In practice, the safest rule is this: a regular wide-complex tachycardia should be treated as VT until proven otherwise, especially in an older patient…
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GASTROSAM Trial: IV vs Oral Rehydration in Children With Severe Acute Malnutrition and Gastroenteritis
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains one of the most difficult clinical settings in pediatric care, especially when complicated by gastroenteritis and dehydration. Clinicians are often cautious with intravenous fluids in these children because of concerns about fluid overload, electrolyte shifts, and clinical deterioration. Current WHO recommendations generally favor conservative rehydration strategies in children with SAM,…
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ATLANTIS Trial: Alteplase for Ischemic Stroke 3–5 Hours After Symptom Onset
The ATLANTIS trial, published in JAMA in 1999, evaluated whether intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, also known as rt-PA or alteplase, improves outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke when given 3 to 5 hours after symptom onset. At the time, thrombolysis had already shown benefit when administered early after ischemic stroke. ATLANTIS asked an…
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MAJESTY Trial: Obinutuzumab vs Tacrolimus in Primary Membranous Nephropathy
Primary membranous nephropathy is an immune-mediated glomerular disease and a major cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Treatment often aims to reduce proteinuria, preserve kidney function, and achieve durable remission while minimizing drug toxicity. Calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus can reduce proteinuria, but relapse and long-term kidney safety remain important concerns. The MAJESTY Trial evaluated…
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WATERFALL Trial: Aggressive vs Moderate Fluid Resuscitation in Acute Pancreatitis
Clinical question: In adults with acute pancreatitis, does early aggressive fluid resuscitation improve outcomes compared with a more moderate fluid strategy? Acute pancreatitis is one of those conditions where “give fluids early” has been drilled into clinical practice for years. The logic makes sense: patients may be volume depleted, pancreatic microcirculation may be impaired, and…
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CURE Trial: Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin in Patients With NSTEMI/Unstable Angina
The CURE trial was a landmark randomized clinical trial that evaluated whether adding clopidogrel to aspirin improves outcomes in patients with non–ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, including NSTEMI and unstable angina. The main finding was: clopidogrel plus aspirin reduced cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, or stroke, but increased major bleeding. Background Patients with NSTEMI or unstable angina…
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TRITON-TIMI 38 Trial: Prasugrel vs Clopidogrel in Acute Coronary Syndromes
The TRITON-TIMI 38 trial was a major randomized clinical trial comparing prasugrel with clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome who were scheduled to undergo PCI. The main finding was: prasugrel reduced ischemic cardiovascular events compared with clopidogrel, but increased bleeding risk. Background Patients with acute coronary syndrome are at high risk for recurrent cardiovascular…
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PLATO Trial: Ticagrelor vs Clopidogrel in Acute Coronary Syndromes
The PLATO trial was a landmark cardiovascular trial comparing ticagrelor with clopidogrel in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome. The main finding was clear: ticagrelor reduced cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke compared with clopidogrel, without a significant increase in major bleeding. Background Patients with acute coronary syndrome, including STEMI and non-STEMI, are at high…