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04:59
Spinal Cord Electrophysiology
Published on: January 18, 2010
Narrative review: Electrocution and life-threatening electrical injuries
Christian Spies1, Richard G Trohman
1Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
Annals of Internal Medicine
|October 4, 2006
Summary
Understanding electrical injury mechanisms is key. Despite frequent fatalities, successful resuscitation after cardiopulmonary arrest offers a favorable prognosis for electrical shock survivors.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Physics
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Electrical injuries are common, with approximately 3000 survivors admitted to specialized burn units annually.
- Electrocution can be fatal, but outcomes for resuscitated patients are often favorable.
- Predicting the full extent of injury from electrical shock is challenging initially.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms and pathophysiology of electrical injuries.
- To elucidate typical injuries sustained by patients experiencing electrical shock.
- To inform the treatment and prognosis of electrical injury patients.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of English-language publications in MEDLINE and reference lists.
- Inclusion of retrospective studies, case reports, and review articles (1966-2005).
- Internet search for information on electrocution and life-threatening electrical injuries.
Main Results:
- Basic physics principles help explain typical electrical shock injuries.
- Electrocution frequently results in death.
- Successful resuscitation after cardiopulmonary arrest in electrical shock victims often leads to a positive prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Familiarity with physics aids in understanding electrical injury.
- Electrical injury patients admitted to intensive care units should be managed as trauma patients.
- Early outcome prediction for electrical shock is difficult due to the delayed manifestation of injury severity.
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