Wednesday, March 2, 2016

A Pathognomonic ECG. What is the Diagnosis?

An elderly patient was found down in her apartment with altered mental status.  A prehospital ECG was recorded and was identical to this one:


This is pathognomonic of what condition?




















There is slow atrial fibrillation and pronounced J-waves (Osborn waves).

The patient's temperature was 27 degrees Celsius.  There were no electrolyte abnormalities.  She was internally rewarmed with an intravascular catheter, treated for a UTI, and did well.

Here is her ECG after rewarming:







1 comment:

  1. Great Tracing and Post. There are clearly Osborn waves in the first ECG. In second ECG, there are misplacement of the limb lead electrodes (LA/LL reversal). Therefore, lead III becomes inverted;
    leads I and II switch places; leads aVL and aVF switch places and Lead aVR remains unchanged.Thanks A LOT.

    ReplyDelete

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