A 69-Year-Old Man with a 2-Month History of Shortness of Breath and Mild Chest Pain

The patients is a 69-year-old man with shortness of breath and mild chest pain of 2 months duration. He has felt it unnecessary to see his “regular doctor” because his complaints haven’t gotten worse, but conceded to visit urgent care today at the insistence of his family.

When asked, he acknowledges a history of congestive heart failure and hypertension.

View the ECG and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

Benjamin Cooper, MD, FACEP

Assistant Professor and Associate Program Director, McGovern Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.