Background and Purpose-Patients with acute cerebrovascular events are susceptible to serious cardiac arrhythmias, but data on the time course and the determinants of their onset are scarce. Methods-The prospective Stroke-Arrhythmia-Monitoring-Database (SAMBA) assessed cardiac arrhythmias with need for urgent evaluation and treatment in 501 acute neurovascular patients during the first 72 hours after admission to a monitored stroke unit. Arrhythmias were systematically detected by structured processing of telemetric data. Time of arrhythmia onset and predisposing factors were investigated. Results-Significant cardiac arrhythmias occurred in 25.1% of all patients. Incidence was highest during the first 24 hours after admission. Serious arrhythmic tachycardia (ventricular or supraventricular >130 beats/min) was more frequent than bradycardic arrhythmia ( sinus-node dysfunction, bradyarrhythmia, or atrioventricular block °II and °III). Arrhythmias were independently associated with higher age and severer neurological deficits as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on admission. Conclusions-The risk for significant cardiac arrhythmia after an acute cerebrovascular event is highest during the first 24 hours of care and declines with time during the first 3 days. Along with established vascular risk factors, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale may be considered for a stratified allocation of monitoring capabilities.

This study provides Class I evidence that MPP by patients or relatives accurately distinguishes AF from normal heart rhythm as compared with continuous ECG.

A 95-year-old female with a history of dementia and atrial fibrillation (not on anticoagulation) presented to the emergency department (ED) by ambulance from her skilled nursing facility due to hypoxia. Point-of-care ultrasound was performed, and showed evidence of a large mobile thrombus in the right ventricle on apical four-chamber view. Further evidence of associated right heart strain was seen on the corresponding parasternal short-axis view. These ultrasound findings in combination with the patient’s clinical presentation are diagnostic of acute pulmonary embolism with right heart strain. Point-of-care transthoracic cardiac ultrasound in the ED is an effective tool to promptly diagnose acute pulmonary embolism with right heart strain and thrombus in transit and guide further treatment.

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32-year-old woman with history of pleurisy and systemic lupus erythematosus presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain, acutely worse over one day after a six hour flight three days prior. She became dyspneic walking from her hotel bed to the bathroom. She endorsed 3 weeks of right lower leg cramping. She denied history of blood clots. She appeared tachypneic and speaking in short phrases upon arrival. A bedside ultrasound was performed, see Figures. Vitals: T: 98.3 F, HR: 130, BP: 142/88, RR: 24, oxygen saturation 97% on room air.