[Electrocardiographic alterations in expired cases due to ruptured cerebral aneurysm: correlation with other complications relating to the autonomic nervous system].

Forty three expired cases due to ruptured cerebral aneurysm were studied in electrocardiographic alterations with special reference to other complications of the autonomic nervous system. The cases with past history of ischemic cardiovascular disease had been excluded. The age of the patients ranged between 23 to 79 years old (average 50.1 years old). The clinical condition of the patients according to Hunt & Kosnik classification I in 1 case, II in 11 cases, III in 14 cases, and IV & V in 17 cases. The duration between the aneurysm rupture and admission was within 24 hours in 16 cases, 2 to 3 days in 13 cases, 4 to 7 days in 9 cases, and 2 to 3 weeks in 5 cases. The site of ruptured aneurysms was anterior communicating artery in 12 cases, internal carotid artery in 24 cases, and others in 7 cases. The direct surgeries to the aneurysms were performed in 22 cases, and not done in 21 cases. The electrocardiographic alterations were found as follows: flat or inverted T in 19 cases, prolonged QTc in 33 cases, manifest U in 14 cases, ST elevation or depression in 10 cases, Ta (atrial T) in 10 cases, left ventricular hypertrophy in 8 cases, sinus tachycardia in 7 cases, sinus bradycardia in 12 cases, and arrhythmias with SVPC or VPC (supraventricular or ventricular premature contraction), or sinus arrhythmia in 12 cases. Prolonged QTc, and flat or inverted T were most often found in the cases with ruptured aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery, and next in those with the internal carotid artery, and least often in those with others.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)