ECG Changes during Septic Shock

Abstract

We have previously found that skeletal muscle becomes electrically inexcitable in septic patients. Work in an animal model suggests that a decrease in the available sodium current underlies the loss of electrical excitability. We examined ECGs from patients during periods of septic shock to determine whether there were any ECG abnormalities that might suggest a similar loss of excitability in cardiac tissue during sepsis. Fourteen out of 17 patients had low or significantly decreased QRS amplitudes during septic shock; 8 of 17 had long or increased QRS duration with or without bundle branch block. The mean decrease in QRS amplitude in septic patients was 41%, significantly higher than in controls where no consistent decrease in QRS amplitude was found (p < 0.01). In patients who recovered from septic shock, the QRS amplitude and the increased QRS duration both returned to normal. We conclude that there is a loss of QRS amplitude during septic shock that may be due to altered cardiac excitability.

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): CRD

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Cardiology

Journal ID (doi): 10.1159/issn.0008-6312

Title: Cardiology

Publisher: S. Karger AG

ISSN (Print): 0008-6312

ISSN (Electronic): 1421-9751

Publication date Subscription-year: 2002

Publication date (Print): July 2002

Publication date (Electronic): 19 July 2002

Volume: 97

Issue: 4

Pages: 187-196

Affiliations

^aDepartment of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga., ^bDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, ^cSt. Marys Duluth Clinic Health System, ^dCardiology Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and ^eDepartment of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Article

Publisher ID: 63120 Other ID: Cardiology 2002;97:187–196

DOI: 10.1159/000063120

PubMed ID: 12145473

Copyright statement: © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

License:

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Page count

Figures: 3, Tables: 3, References: 13, Pages: 10

Product

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Categories

Subject: General Cardiology