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Lightning injury: report of a case
1Department of Emergency Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan Yi Zhi
|August 1, 1993
Summary
A sustained lightning injury case highlights severe systemic damage, including heart failure and pulmonary edema. Prompt medical intervention led to recovery, with only mild neurological deficits remaining.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Cardiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Lightning strikes are infrequent but can cause severe, multi-systemic trauma.
- High mortality rates are associated with lightning-related injuries.
- This case details a patient experiencing significant cardiopulmonary and neurological compromise post-lightning strike.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old woman was found unconscious after a thunderstorm.
- She presented with acute heart failure, pulmonary edema, and altered consciousness.
- Physical examination revealed scattered third-degree burns on the neck, attributed to a metal necklace.
Findings:
- The patient required mechanical ventilation and inotropic support.
- Hemodynamic monitoring was managed using a Swan-Ganz catheter.
- She was discharged after two weeks with a favorable clinical outcome.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical need for aggressive supportive care in severe lightning injuries.
- Early recognition and management of cardiopulmonary complications are vital for survival.
- Neurological sequelae, such as amnesia and disorientation, can persist despite initial recovery.