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[Myocardial damage following lightning injury]
1Medizinische Universitätsklinik Graz.
Zeitschrift Fur Kardiologie
|June 1, 1989
Summary
Lightning strike caused myocardial infarction in a young woman, presenting without chest pain. Cardiac function normalized within two months, with no lasting perfusion defects found via SPECT imaging.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Trauma Medicine
Background:
- Lightning strike as a rare but significant cause of cardiac injury.
- Myocardial infarction (MI) typically presents with distinct cardiac symptoms and ECG changes.
Observation:
- A 27-year-old woman experienced unconsciousness and memory loss after a lightning strike.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed acute posterior-lateral myocardial infarction (MI) and elevated cardiac enzymes.
- Echocardiography showed transient pericardial effusion and hemorrhage in the left breast.
Findings:
- Despite ECG and enzyme evidence of MI, the patient remained asymptomatic of cardiac distress.
- Serial ECGs showed regression to non-specific ST-T wave deviations over two months.
- Thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy (SPECT) at six days and two months post-injury excluded reversible and irreversible perfusion defects, indicating functional recovery.
Implications:
- Lightning-induced myocardial injury can occur without typical anginal symptoms.
- Transient cardiac abnormalities following lightning strikes may fully resolve.
- SPECT imaging is valuable in assessing the long-term impact of lightning on myocardial perfusion.