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Report of nitropatch explosions complicating defibrillation
E A Panacek1, M A Munger, W F Rutherford
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, OH 44106.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|March 1, 1992
Summary
Electrical defibrillators rarely cause complications. However, using them over nitroglycerin patches can cause burns due to electrical arcing, a previously unreported issue.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Emergency Medicine
- Medical Device Safety
Background:
- Electrical defibrillators are critical for treating life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
- Complications from defibrillation are infrequent, necessitating vigilance for potential risks.
Observation:
- Two patients experienced electrical arcing and thermal injuries when defibrillation was applied over a transdermal nitroglycerin patch.
- This resulted in visible light flashes and significant skin burns at the application site.
Findings:
- Electrical arcing and subsequent thermal injury (burns) represent a novel complication of defibrillation when applied over nitroglycerin patches.
- These injuries, though previously unreported, appear to be treatable with standard medical interventions.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers performing defibrillation must be aware of the risk of burns when patches are present.
- This finding highlights the need for careful patient assessment and adherence to safety protocols during defibrillator use.