The key role of ECG in diagnosing secondary hypothermia in a patient with shock : a case report
Borja Cano, Maria (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Valls, M.T. (Medical Emergency System)
Agra Montava, Ivan (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Gomez Robles, Joaquin Jose (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Fernandez Gonzalez, Diego (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Lazzari, Roberto (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Even if hypothermia is described as one of the main causes of cardiac arrest, in medical literature, it is not often mentioned as a main cause of shock. Nevertheless, it is known to contribute to shock development, maintenance, and worsening of its prognosis by lowering cardiac performance and blood pressure; this is particularly relevant in sepsis. Diagnosing hypothermia can be challenging, especially in patients not suffering an obvious environmental exposure. Digital medical thermometers cannot accurately estimate hypothermia, so when suspected, the placement of an esophageal thermometer is indicated. Below 32°C, the Electrocardiogram (ECG) often shows a characteristic elevation of the J point called the Osborne Wave (OW). We present a case of a patient with mixed shock in which this electrocardiographic disturbance allowed for an early suspicion of hypothermia, enabling prompt initiation of adequate treatment.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Hypothermia ; Shock ; ECG ; Sepsis
Published in:	Emergency Care Journal, Vol. 21 Núm. 2 (23 2025) , p. 13543, ISSN 2282-2054

DOI: 10.4081/ecj.2025.13543

4 p, 9.9 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles