Intracranial hemorrhage can cause electrocardiographic (ECG) changes secondary to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and increased catecholamine release, which affect the myocardium. These changes reflect the interaction between the brain and the heart, known as the neurocardiogenic syndrome.

Electrocardiographic Changes

  • QTc prolongation
  • ST-segment deviation, most commonly ST depression
  • Sinus bradycardia
  • Deep inverted T waves (in this setting, called “cerebral T waves”)

ECG in Intracranial Hemorrhage

Coming soon…

References

  1. Popescu D, Laza C, Mergeani A, Bajenaru OA, et al. Lead electrocardiogram changes after supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage. Maedica (Buchar). 2012;7(4):290–4.
  2. Khechinashvili G, Asplund K. Electrocardiographic Changes in Patients with Acute Stroke: A Systematic Review. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2002;14(2):67–76.
  3. Yaghmoor BE, Alotaibi SM, Enani MZ, Alqudsi HS, et al. Electrocardiographic changes following intracranial haemorrhage: A retrospective cohort study. Neurosciences. 2020;25(2):104–11.
  4. Takeuchi S, Nagatani K, Otani N, Wada K, et al. Electrocardiograph abnormalities in intracerebral hemorrhage. J Clin Neurosci Off J Neurosurg Soc Australas. 2015;22(12):1959–62.