Electrocardiographic changes in accidental hypothermia
Sgobba, G.; Nassisi, G.; Giannelli, F.; Cellamare, G.; Poppa, E.; Spada, V.L.; Bianco, G.
Giornale Italiano di Cardiologia 12(2): 147-150
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0046-5968 PMID: 7173540 Document Number: 188232
An 83-year-old woman was found unconscious several hours after she had fallen and fractured her lower limbs in a very cold cellar. On admission she was in shock and had metabolic acidosis, anemia and hypokalemia; her axillary and rectal temperature was 23 degrees C. Her initial ECG showed atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response and a prominent J wave on the left precordial leads. These changes reverted to normal when body temperature returned to 37 degrees C. Moreover a transient, hypothermia-associated increase of QRS voltage was noted.