Osborn waves in a hypothermic patient

Abstract

A56-year-old man presented with hypothermia (rectal temperature of 30.1°C) and hypotension after being found by emergency medical services (EMS) on his basement floor. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed normal sinus rhythm with a rate of 62 bpm, right bundle branch block, prolonged QT interval (QTc of 564 ms), wide QRS (110 ms), and a prominent J wave in the precordial leads (Fig. 1). After the patient was warmed to a normal core body temperature, hydrated, and made normotensive, repeat ECG showed a normal sinus rhythm of 79 bpm, right bundle branch block, prolonged QT (QTc of 488), and resolution of the J waves (Fig. 2).

(Published: 26 January 2012)

Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2011, 1: 10742 - DOI: 10.3402/jchimp.v1i4.10742