Osborn wave

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Osborn waves (also known as camel-hump sign, late delta wave, hathook junction, hypothermic wave, J point wave, K wave, H wave or current of injury) are usually observed on the electrocardiogram of people suffering from hypothermia, though they may also occur in people with high blood levels of calcium (hypercalcemia), brain injury, vasospastic angina, or ventricular fibrillation. Osborn waves are positive deflections occurring at the junction between the QRS complex and the ST segment, where the S point, also known as the J joint, has a myocardial infarction-like elevation. These waves were definitively described in 1955 by JJ Osborn and were named in his honor.

[edit] References

  • Osborn JJ. Experimental hypothermia: Respiratory and blood pH changes in relation to cardiac function. Am J Physiol 1953; 175: 389-398.
  • Maruyama, Mitsunori and Kobayashi, Yoshinori and Kodani, Eitaroh and Hirayama, Yoshiyuki and Atarashi, Hirotsugu and Katoh, Takao and Takano, Teruo. Osborn Waves: History and Significance. Indian Pacing and Electrophysiology Journal 4(1):pp. 33-39.