Hypothermia
ECG manifestations of Hypothermia are:-
- Development of J wave :- J wave or Junctional wave or Osborne wave is a hump-like deflection which occurs at the junction of the distal limb of the QRS complex with the ST segment. The amplitude of this deflection is proportional to the degree of hypothermia. It is consistently present when the body temperature is below 25 degree celsius. J wave is most prominent in leads oriented to the left ventricle.
- PR segment depression
- QRS prolongation
- ST segment depression
- T wave inversion
- QT interval prolongation
- Muscle tremors, which are reflected as shivering artefacts
- Cardiac Arrhythmias like sinus bradycardia, AV blocks, Ectopic rhythms
Therapeutically Induced Mild Hypothermia
Question:- Why is mild hypothermia induced in certain individuals?
Induced mild therapeutic hypothermia may improve neurological outcome and survival in unconscious survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
ECG manifestations in a case of Therapeutically induced Mild Hypothermia (MTH) :-
- MTH has low proarrhythmic potential
- Osborn waves are not associated with worse outcome
- Findings may mimic STEMI