SUPRAVENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS FOLLOWING BREATH-HOLD SUBMERSIONS IN COLD-WATER

Twelve subjects undertook one submersion into water at 5 degrees C aci d two at 10 degrees C wearing either a wet or dry suit. During the sub mersions the subjects held their breath for as long as they could and then breathed through respiratory tubing for a further 10 s before bei ng removed from the water. Bradycardia (heart rate <60 beats/min) was observed during breath holding in 10 subjects in 28 of the 36 submersi ons. Ectopic arrhythmias were observed in 11 subjects in 29 of the 36 submersions, a much higher frequency than previously reported. These e ctopic arrhythmias included premature atrial and junctional complexes, runs of supraventricular tachycardia, and premature ventricular compl exes. They occurred predominantly in the 10-s period of submersion aft er the cessation of breath holding. The possible etiology of these arr hythmias and their significance are discussed and it is concluded that after breath-hold termination during cold-water submersion there is a short time during which the heart may be particularly susceptible to supraventricular ectopic arrhythmias.