Patrick Loftis, PA-C, MPAS, RN

Patrick Loftis practices emergency medicine and is clinical assistant professor, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Recent Articles

Myocardial infarction on ECG

January 16, 2012

In this installment, the authors discuss how to interpret and diagnose myocardial infarction (MI) on an ECG.

Myocardial ischemia

December 14, 2011

When there is not a sufficient oxygen supply to meet the body's demand, myocardial ischemia occurs. Abnormalities in the ST segment are diagnostic of this condition.

Electrolyte abnormalities on ECG

November 16, 2011

The authors review the characteristic changes that hypercalcemia, hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, and other serum electrolyte abnormalities can cause on an ECG.

Ventricular fibrillation

October 14, 2011

An unsteady baseline and a very irregular QRS segment are highly indicative of ventricular fibrillation.

Ventricular tachycardias

September 14, 2011

Whether patients have symptoms depends on how well the tachycardia is perfusing vital organs.

Atrial tachycardia

August 12, 2011

In a patient with a rapid heart rate, measuring the width of the QRS complex can provide an important diagnostic clue.

Preexcitation syndromes

July 12, 2011

Accessory pathways in the heart that allow electrical impulses to go around the atrioventricular node can result in atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias.

Interpreting the ECG of a patient with a pacemaker

June 14, 2011

Pacemakers leave their signatures on an ECG. Here's how to recognize them.

Atrial flutter

May 13, 2011

In atrial flutter, the contracting atria generate electrical impulses so rapidly that the atrioventricular node cannot repolarize fast enough to handle them.