title: Extreme but not life-threatening QT interval prolongation? Take a closer look at the neck!
abstract: We present the case of a 82-year-old woman with a history of total thyroidectomy who was admitted in hospital with severe hypocalcemia. A 12-lead surface ECG revealed atrial fibrillation along with an extremely prolonged QT interval of approximately 730ms. In the absence of any other possible cause of QT interval prolongation, hypocalcemia was attributed to surgical hypoparathyroidism and undue discontinuation of calcium supplementation. Surprisingly, no ventricular arrhythmias were recorded and calcium repletion was followed by normalization of QT interval.
authors: 2nd Department of Cardiology, Amalia Fleming General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Elias
authors: E
authors: Rentoukas
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Lazaros
authors: Spiridon
authors: S
authors: Sotiriou
authors: Minas
authors: M
authors: Athanassiou
authors: Dimitris
authors: D
authors: Tsiachris
authors: Spiridon
authors: S
authors: Deftereos
authors: Christodoulos
authors: C
authors: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*