ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES IN ACUTE HEROIN OVERDOSAGE

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 29  (1) , 85-89
Abstract
Of 25 acutely overdosed heroin addicts, 21 had abnormalities noted on their admission ECG. The most common findings were non-specific ST-T wave changes in 17 patients, sinus tachycardia in 11 and left or right atrial enlargement in 8. Five patients had more serious arrhythmias (4 atrial fibrillation and 1 ventricular tachycardia). For the entire group the initial PaO2 [arterial partial pressure of O2] was 74.8 .+-. 48.2 torr. This degree of oxygenation was only achieved with the use of high dose supplemental O2. The 5 patients with the more serious arrhythmias had comparable PaO2 but this was only achieved with higher supplemental O2 concentrations. ECG alterations (other than arrhythmias) were very common in acute heroin overdosage and may be related to hypoxemia. The abnormal cardiac rhythms may be due to the direct effects of heroin or its metabolites.

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