Clinical case: Osborn wave detection in the patient with previous myocardial infarction
AbstractPathological wave Q [depolarization changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG)] is the classic pattern of myocardial infarction (MI). Repolarization changes are less specific and correlate with myocardial necrosis markers in an acute period. In the long term (previous MI) repolarization abnormalities are not usually considered as MI markers (except aneurysm elaboration with ST-elevation). But in routine practice doctors are often dealing with symptoms of the disease which don't fit in the electrocardiography diagnostic standards of MI. Classic Osborn wave in the end of depolarization or at the beginning of repolarization is often associated with hypothermia (body temperature < 35,6). However, some researchers noticed such wave in patients with normal body temperature but with different pathological conditions and diseases: hypercalciemia, myocardial ischemia, postoperative pericarditis, resuscitation after clinical death, central nervous system diseases, and cocaine abuse or haloperidol overdosage. The most interesting part of this clinical observation is the ECG-changes which reminds the Osborn wave in a patient with previous MI.
Keywords:Osborn wave, myocardial infarction, left ventricular aneurysm