Hypothermia

What it is

Hypothermia here appears as one item on other lists rather than on its own. It is one of the symptomatic consequences of drowning, listed alongside aspiration and hypoxia, ARDS, dysrhythmias, N&V, neurological, metabolic acidosis and trauma. It is also the reason the trauma patient is covered very well at the end of the examination.

How it is diagnosed

The ECG carries it. Four things are looked for: bradycardia, the Osborn J wave, shivering artifacts, and A-Fib with no P wave.

The Osborn wave sits in the down slope of the R wave and can be seen in any lead, although it is written against V4, V5 and V6. Its timing is what names it: the Osborn wave comes after the QRS, while a delta wave comes before the QRS. A rate of 35 with those waves is the picture.