BACKGROUND: The J-wave or Osborn wave is a rarely encountered electrocardiographic anomaly. It was described by J.J.Osborn in 1953 during hypothermia. But it can be observed apart from hypothermia. The association of this ECG anomaly with the use of psychotropic drugs has rarely been described in literature.
CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a schizophrenic patient under several psychotropic drugs, presenting in the emergency department for vigilance disorders; the ECG shows diffuse Osborn wave and prolongation of QT without hypothermia. We discuss the cause of the ECG abnormality. This case illustrates the poor prognosis of the presence of Osborn-wave under psychotropic drugs.
Why should an emergency physician be aware of this? : The emergency physician must recognize the potentially association of Osborn-wave with severe antipsychotic overdoses and he must be aware of the severity of prognosis of this ECG abnormality .
Diffuse Osborn wave and side effects of psychotropic drugs?
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