Electrocardiograms Recorded After Asystolic Cardiac Arrest.

A man with a history of drug abuse was found down at home and was asystolic. Following restoration of sinus rhythm, a hypothermia protocol brought his temperature to 32.5°C (90.5°F), and large Osborn waves appeared on his electrocardiogram. With rewarming the electrocardiographic signs of hypothermia diminished. Due to hypoxic brain injury during the arrest, the patient remained unresponsive and died on the fourth hospital day.