[Changes in the electrocardiogram in patients with coma due to poisoning].

The paper deals with changes in the electrocardiogram in a group of 20 patients in a comatose state due to intoxication. They were treated in an Intensive Care Unit. Special attention is directed to the corrected Q-T interval. The etiology of comatose states differed from ethanol, pesticides, antidepressives to anxiolytics, antiepileptics, sedatives, hypnotics, trichloroethylene and chlorpropamide. According to the criteria of Reed, nine patients were in a comatose state of the 0 or I degree, seven in a state of the II or III degree, and four in a state of the IV degree. The length of comatose states was between one hour and six days. Four of these patients died. According to ECG changes, in eleven patients sinus tachycardia, in two atrial fibrillation, and in seven a regular heart rhythm were diagnosed. The corrected Q-T interval was prolonged in fifteen out of 20 patients on the admission and reached the values of 0.664 seconds: it as also prolonged in two of the patients showing a normal range on the admission. In one of the patients malignant ventricular arrhythmia was observed.