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Tag stone heart theory
TOP-100-ECG-QUIZ-340

ECG Case 086

70 yr old male who presented with general lethargy and postural dizziness. He has a collapse the evening prior and recently had a diarrhoeal illness. His medications include warfarin, metoprolol, frusemide, allopurinol, colchicine and digoxin. Describe and interpret this ECG. LITFL Top 100 ECG
CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Calcium, Digoxin Toxicity and ‘Stone Heart’ Theory

Administration of intravenous calcium has traditionally been considered a contra-indication for the treatment of hyperkalemia in the presence of digoxin toxicity. This is based on the ‘Stone Heart’ Theory: calcium may lead to an irreversible non-contractile state, due to impaired diastolic relaxation from calcium-troponin C binding