Hypothermia can present with atypical EKG changes such as diffuse ST segment depression, which resolves with aggressive warming.
Hypothermia warrants consideration in unexplained diffuse ST depression; this single case leaves open broader diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Hypothermia is known to cause specific electrocardiographic (EKG) changes such as Osborne waves and bradycardia. We report diffuse ST segment depression, an atypical EKG change, in a patient with a core temperature of 29.4°C (85°F). This patient had no previous cardiovascular pathology, and his EKG changes resolved gradually with aggressive warming. We also discuss the pathophysiology and clinical significance of ST depression in the general population and the typical EKG changes in hypothermia patients.
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Wang et al. (2010) studied this question.
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