HYPOTHERMIA:

A body temperature below normal. Hypothermia can affect the heart and the ECG.

•ECG changes associated with hypothermia:

•Initially: Sinus tachycardia.

•Later: Sinus bradycardia; Prolongation of the PR interval, QRS complexes and QT interval.

•Later: Atrial arrhythmias (e.g. ectopic atrial beats/rhythms; atrial fibrillation); Osborn waves (aka: J waves; camel-hump waves; hypothermic waves).

•Later: QRS widening; Ventricular fibrillation.