PEA(Pulseless electrical activity) should be differentiated from asystole and ventricular fibrillation, Ventricular flutter, Torsade de Pointes, Asystole etc.

• Asystole: In asystole, there is cessation of any cardiac activity and lack of cardiac output on this basis. In PEA, electrical activity is present.
• Ventricular fibrillation: There is no organized electrical activity present. There are only fine fibrillatory waves present in ventricular fibrillation. In PEA, there is organized electrical activity.
• Peripheral arterial disease: The inability to feel a peripheral pulse may be due to severe peripheral arterial disease.

The table below provides information on the differential diagnosis of pulseless electrical activity in terms of ECG appearance:

Disease Name	Causes	ECG Characteristics	ECG view
Ventricular tachycardia [1][2][3][4][5]	Ischemic heart disease Illicit drug use such as cocaine and methamphetamine Structural heart diseases Electrolyte disturbances Congestive heart failure Myocarditis Obstructive sleep apnea Pulmonary artery catheter Long QT syndrome	Ventricular tachycardia originates from a ventricular focus. Lasts more than 30 seconds. Broad QRS complexes: rate of >90 BPM.	[6]
Ventricular fibrillation [7][8][9][10]	Acute coronary ischemia Cardiomyopathies Congenital heart disease Myocardial infarction Heart surgery Electrolyte abnormalities	Poorly identifiable QRS complexes and absent P waves The heart rate is >300 BPM Rhythm is irregular	[11]
Ventricular flutter [12][13][14]	Electrolyte disturbances Medications such as: Disopyramide Quinidine	The ECG shows: A typical sinusoidal pattern Frequency of 300 bpm	[15]
Asystole [16][17]	Hypovolemia Hypoxia Acidosis Hypothermia Hyperkalemia or Hypokalemia Hypoglycemia Cardiac Tamponade Tension pneumothorax Thrombosis Myocardial infarction Thrombosis Pulmonary embolism Cardiogenic shock Degeneration of the sinoatrial or atrioventricular nodes Ischemic stroke	There is no electrical activity in the asystole	[18]
Pulseless electrical activity [19][20][21][22]	Hypovolemia Hypoxia Hydrogen ions (Acidosis) Hypothermia Electrolyte disturbances Hypoglycemia Tablets or Toxins (Drug overdose) such as beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, or calcium channel blockers Tamponade Tension pneumothorax Thrombosis (Myocardial infarction) Thrombosis (Pulmonary embolism) Trauma (Hypovolemia from blood loss)	Several pattern are possible including: Normal sinus rhythm Sinus tachycardia, with discernible P waves and QRS complexes Bradycardia, with or without P waves	[23]
Torsade de Pointes [24][25][26]	*Electrolyte disturbances Medications such as: Amiodarone Azithromycin Clozapine Famotidine Flecainide Foscarnet Levofloxacin Lithium Mirtazapine Quetiapine Risperidone Tacrolimus Tamoxifen Ziprasidone	Paroxysms of VT with irregular RR intervals. A ventricular rate between 200 and 250 beats per minute. Two or more cycles of QRS complexes with alternating polarity. Changing amplitude of the QRS complexes in each cycle in a sinusoidal fashion. Prolongation of the QT interval. Is often initiated by a PVC with a long coupling interval, R on T phenomenon. There are usually 5 to 20 complexes in each cycle.	[27]