This educational module provides guidance on the initial assessment and 12-lead ECG screening for patients experiencing transient loss of consciousness.
May guide paramedic syncope assessment; leaves open whether ECG screening improves outcomes in prospective studies.
Overview Cardiac arrhythmia affects more than 700 000 people in England, and is consistently in the top ten reasons for admission, placing a significant strain on emergency department time and bed availability (DH, 2005). Following the introduction of pre-hospital thrombolysis as part of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), the acquisition and interpretation of 12 lead ECGs has become a routine part of UK paramedic practice. Although training models have varied nationally, the main focus has been on the use of 12 lead ECGs to identify changes associated with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in order to facilitate early reperfusion measures. Learning Outcomes After completing this module you will: • Undertake initial assessment of patients with T-LOC • Describe significant ‘red flag’ findings in patients experiencing T-LOC • List ECG abnormalities requiring referral in T-LOC • Apply the ABCDER mnemonic to screen the ECG in T-LOC
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A 2012 study studied this question.
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