Dyspnoea and dizziness are very common presentations in the emergency department. We describe three female patients complaining of dyspnoea and dizziness during their postpartum period. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy is discussed.

A 70-year-old man developed ventricular tachycardia after consumption of a self-prescribed dose of Chinese herbal medicine containing Chuanwu and Fuzi. He made a good recovery after initial resuscitation in Accident and Emergency department (A&E) as well as supportive treatment in CCU. This case report demonstrates the initial resuscitation of patient with Chuanwu poisoning, discuss its pathophysiology and variety of treatment.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a familiar arrhythmia seen in the emergency department and the general population. In the past it was treated in the majority of cases by controlling the ventricular rate, whether the AF is acute or chronic. However, ventricular rate control alone does not address the underlying problem and the patients still remain in AF, cardiac output and symptoms have not been optimally corrected. There is definite risk of thromboembolism. Restoration of sinus rhythm is the only way of resuming the normal conduction physiology of the heart and correcting these problems This article provides a review of the two major principles of rhythm treatment of acute AF: rate control and restoration of sinus rhythm. Transthoracic electrical cardioversion is the mainstay of treatment in haemodynamically unstable AF, whereas in stable AF, there is a choice between rate control and restoration of sinus rhythm, or they can be carried out in conjunction with each other.