Hypothermia-induced Brugada-like electrocardiogram pattern.

A patient in whom moderate hypothermia developed after prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation is described. Hypothermia was manifested by transient electrocardiogram changes, including long QT, precordial J waves, and downsloping ST-segment elevation ending in a negative T wave in leads V(1) and V(2) resembling the Brugada syndrome. The physiopathologic mechanisms of these electrocardiographic findings are discussed.

Giant R wave, convex ST-segment elevation, and negative T wave during exercise treadmill test.

The giant R wave syndrome is characterized by giant R wave accompanied by widening of the QRS complex, marked ST segment elevation, QRS axis deviation, and the formation of monophasic QRS-ST complex with obliteration of S wave in leads facing the ischemic zone. This report describes a 65-year-old-man with variant angina who had a transient giant R wave syndrome during an exercise treadmill test. Initially, at peak exercise, there was a convex ST segment elevation ending in a negative T wave in the same (inferior) leads which showed giant R waves.

Pulmonary thromboembolism after long car travel (Tromboembolismo pulmonar tras viaje prolongado en automóvil).

Prolonged immobility, especially bed rest for medical or surgical processes, constitutes one of the main risk factors for developing pulmonary thromboembolism. Immobility during extended plane or coach journeys (economy class syndrome) is not a frequent cause of serious pulmonary thromboembolism in healthy travellers. We report a case of serious pulmonary thromboembolism after a prolonged journey by car.

Transient Brugada-type electrocardiographic abnormalities in renal failure reversed by dialysis.

The Brugada syndrome (BRS) is a hereditary cardiac condition (characteristically with a gene mutation affecting sodium channel function) identified by an elevated terminal portion of the QRS complex (prominent J wave) followed by a descending ST-segment elevation ending in a negative T wave in the right precordial leads, and malignant tachyarrhythmias in patients without demonstrable structural heart disease. We report a patient with a previous history of epilepsy treated with psychotropic drugs (with a sodium channel blocking effect) and chronic renal failure on haemodialysis who developed hyperkalaemia (6.6 mmol/l) and ECG findings resembling BRS.