Electrocardiographic findings in 888 patients > or =90 years of age.

The oldest old are the fastest growing component of many national populations. No large-scale analysis of electrocardiographic findings in this group exists to date. This study cataloged the frequencies of specific electrocardiographic (ECG) findings in the target population and compared the frequencies of these findings by gender and race.

Clinical case of the month. Chest pain, diaphoresis, and dyspnea in a hypertensive 53-year-old man.

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment. The initial challenge for the physician lies in distinguishing aortic dissection from more common conditions such as myocardial infarction that also are characterized by chest pain. Subsequent management depends on imaging techniques that define whether just the descending aorta is affected or its more proximal portions as well.