ECG Changes Due to Hypothermia Developed After Drowning: Case Report

• Main Authors: Sabiye YILMAZ, Mehmet Akif CAKAR, Mehmet Bulent VATAN, Harun KILIC, Nurgul KESER
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-03-01
• Series: Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine
• Subjects: Arrest; drowning; hypothermia; osborn wave; trauma
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452247316300383

Drowning is one of the fatal accidents frequently encountered during the summer and is the most common cause of accidental death in the world. Anoxia, hypothermia, and metabolic acidosis are mainly responsible for morbidty. Cardiovascular effects may occur secondary to hypoxia and hypothermia. Atrial fibrillation, sinus dysrhythmias (rarely requiring treatment), and, in serious cases, ventricular fibrillation or asystole may develop, showing as rhythm problems on electrocardiogram and Osborn wave can be seen, especially during hypothermia. A 16-year-old male patient who was admitted to our hospital's emergency service with drowning is presented in this article. In our case, ventricular fibrillation and giant J wave (Osborn wave) associated with hypothermia developed after drowning was seen. We present this case as a reminder of ECG changes due to hypothermia that develop after drowning. Response to cardiopulmonary resuscitation after drowning and hypothermia is not very good. Mortality is very high, so early resuscitation and aggressive treatment of cardiovascular and respiratory problems are important for life.