Broad complex rhythm with a salty taste

Excerpt

A 65-year-old female patient with a medical history of stroke and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation presented to the neurologist at the emergency department of our hospital because of progressive weakness, dyspnoea, and fatigue. Her fluid intake had been minimal because of her malaise. She had no history of syncope. She used the following medications: warfarin, flecainide, and metoprolol. Initial physical examination showed a blood pressure of 105/65 mmHg, a heart rate of 90/min, and no fever. She was clinically mildly decompensated: she had bilateral pulmonary rales and ankle oedema. A CT scan of the brain did not show any significant abnormalities. Laboratory results showed: creatinine 108 µmol/l; MDRD-GFR 44 ml/min; sodium 137 mmol/l; potassium 5.3 mmol/l; calcium 2.2 mmol/l; and magnesium 0.87 mmol/l. …