A rare cause of acute coronary syndrome: electrical shock

Ahmet Goktug Ertem1, Tolga Han Efe, Mehmet Dogan

  • 1Söğütözü Konutları Söğütözü Mah. 2. Cadde 11. Sokak 7/A No: 56, Ankara, Çankaya, Turkey. agertem@hotmail.com

Insights

Electrical shock can cause severe injury. This case highlights anterior ST elevation on electrocardiography following electrical shock, despite normal coronary arteries, mimicking myocardial infarction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Electrical shock poses significant health risks, including cardiac complications.
  • Electrocardiography (ECG) is crucial for diagnosing cardiac events.
  • Coronary angiography (CA) assesses coronary artery patency.

Observation:

  • A patient experiencing electrical shock presented with anterior ST elevation on ECG.
  • These ECG findings are characteristic of myocardial infarction (MI).

Findings:

  • Despite the MI-like ECG changes, coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries.
  • This suggests non-atherosclerotic causes for ST elevation after electrical injury.

Implications:

  • Electrical shock can induce transient myocardial injury mimicking MI.
  • Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms of cardiac injury from electrical shock.
  • This case emphasizes the importance of considering electrical injury in patients with unexplained ST elevation.

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