Question

True or False: You should perform an EKG before further interventions only if your tachycardic patient is stable (i.e. no serious signs or symptoms related to the tachycardia).

Answer 1

It is true that if a tachycardic patient is stable, an EKG should be performed before further interventions. Immediate treatment, possibly before conducting an EKG, is needed for unstable patients with serious symptoms. An EKG can identify arrhythmias, but other tests might be necessary for a complete cardiac function assessment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement you're asking about is true. An Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) should generally be performed before initiating further interventions if the tachycardic patient is stable and not exhibiting serious signs or symptoms that would indicate immediate intervention. If a patient shows signs of instability or has serious symptoms, such as syncope, chest pain, heart failure, or other significant issues, immediate treatment is necessary, which may include cardioversion or defibrillation before performing an EKG.

An EKG is invaluable in diagnosing arrhythmias; however, it does have limitations and cannot always show the effectiveness of the heart's pumping action. Additional tests such as echocardiograms or nuclear medicine imaging might be required to assess cardiac function fully. In the case of tachycardia, treatment options, after a thorough diagnosis, may include medications, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, ablation, or surgery. It is important to identify the cause of tachycardia before deciding on the intervention.