Most commonly seen in the setting of acute stroke or cerebrovascular accident, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or after carotid endarterectomy, neurologic injury can result in the following ECG changes:
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Diffuse deeply inverted T waves
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Prolonged QT interval
These changes may mimic ischemia. There is debate regarding the risk for the prolonged QT interval leading to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in this setting.
ECG Examples:
References:
1. Chou's Electrocardiography in Clinical Practice: Adult and Pediatric, Sixth Edition, Saunders, Philadelphia, 2008.
2. Surawicz
B et al. ACC/AHA recommendations for the standardization and
interpretation of the electrocardiogram. Circulation. 2009;119:e235-240.