![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
A 39-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a rapid heart beat that had begun suddenly about one hour earlier. The episode occurred at rest, shortly after he ate breakfast. He noticed the rapid heart beat, but had no chest pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms. The patient had been diagnosed with aortic regurgitation five years ago, when an echocardiogram had suggested a congenital bicuspid aortic valve. The valvular lesion was considered moderately severe but asymptomatic, with normal left ventricular function.
The patient appeared in no acute distress. His temperature was 36.9° C; pulse, 166 bpm and regular; respirations, 16 per min; blood pressure, 142/62 mm Hg; and oxygen saturation, 98% by pulse oximetry. Prominent venous pulsations were present in the neck, but the jugular venous pressure did not appear to be elevated. The lungs were clear. The heart sounds were loud, and a soft aortic diastolic murmur was heard. The ECG is shown.