Giant J wave on 12-lead electrocardiogram in hypothermia
Balavenkatesh Kanna1, Sachin Wani
1Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, New York (Affiliated with Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York), 10451, USA. bvkanna@aol.com
Abstract:
Findings on standard 12-lead electrocardiogram in patients with hypothermia include sinus bradycardia, prolonged QT and PR interval, wide QRS complex, supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmia, and the most striking electrocardiographic abnormality, the J wave. Although characteristic of hypothermia, J wave also occurs in other conditions. The electro-physiologic basis of J wave in hypothermia has been recently elucidated. We present a case of giant J wave due to accidental hypothermia and in addition discuss the features, mechanism, and significance of J wave in hypothermia.
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