The Osborn Wave and Ethanol

The Osborn wave which is also known as the J wave in electrocardiogram (ECG) is most commonly detected in the cases with hypothermia. Furthermore, this wave may develop as secondary to many conditions such as hypercalcemia, hypoglycemia, brain damage, ischemic heart disease. The Osborn wave disappears when the underlying cause is recovered. As is known, alcohol is a substance made of ethyl alcohol which may cause severe cardiac problems such as cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest In the present case report, we wanted to address the association of a typical Osborn wave with high blood level of alcohol by presenting two cases whom Osborn wave was detected after cardiac arrest and hypothermia developed secondary to high alcohol level in the blood; and discuss the association between Osborn wave and high blood levels of alcohol.