The EKG in hypothermia and hyperthermia

- Hypothermia and hyperthermia are clinical conditions that may cause significant derangement in cardiovascular function.
- A wide range of EKG changes and cardiac dysfunction can accompany both these clinical presentations, often leading to significant diagnostic dilemma. This problem may be compounded by associated electrolyte abnormalities and/or underlying cardiac pathologies like coronary artery disease.
- Recognition of specific EKG patterns associated with hypothermia and hyperthermia can help guide care in these patients.
- We present 2 clinical cases to highlight these findings and review available literature.

Hypothermia and hyperthermia are relatively common clinical conditions that are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially if not promptly recognized and treated. Both of these conditions associated with extreme alterations in core body temperatures can be accompanied by alteration in cardiac function, often with manifest EKG changes. However, some of the EKG changes associated with hypothermia and heat stroke are non-specific and lead to diagnostic dilemmas. We here present 2 clinical cases, one each for hypothermia and hyperthermia to describe the EKG changes associated with these clinical conditions. We also present a review of available literature on these subjects.