ELECTRIC SHOCK; Injuries beyond what the eyes see.​

electric shock

Authors: Dr. Nour Saleh and Dr. Kilalo Mjema

Case presentation

A 53-years-old male, sustained burn wounds on both hands 40 minutes prior presentation to the ED

Primary survey

  • Airway: patent and protected.
  • Breathing: bilateral equal air entry
  • Circulation: warm extremities, capillary refill time is 1 second
    • Vitals on presentation
      • BP: 177/114mmHg
      • HR: 115
      • RR: 16
      • SPO2: 96% in room air
      • T: 36.4
  • Disability: alert and oriented, pupils 5mm bilateral equal light reaction, glucose: 7.3mmol
  • Exposure: holding his hands up in pain with some black discoloration

SAMPLE History

  • Sign and symptoms: pain, see pictures
  • Allergy: no known allergies
  • Medications: not on any medication
  • Past medical history: no known comorbid or any significant medical history
    Last meal: he ate about 2.5 hours prior presentation
  • Event: pain on both hands after sustaining burn injury forty minutes prior presentation to the ED while trying to connect two circuits that sparked causing burn wounds on his hands and felt a jolt of electricity.

No history of heartbeat awareness or any loss of consciousness

electrical injury
electrical injury

Interventions and key steps in management

  • Make sure ABCD is checked and there is no critical intervention needed
  • IV access and fluid resuscitation may be considered depending on the case
  • Analgesics: depends on the severity of pain. Fentanyl 50mcg IV stat can be necessary for many patients.
  • Informed consent for procedural sedation for the dressing of the wounds.
  • Sedation: during the dressing of wounds
  • Point-of-care investigations: ECG, Urine dipstick
  • Blood samples for some labs should be taken; Creatinine, CK, Myoglobin, Electrolytes, Calcium, and Troponin
  • Imaging: X-ray if there is a worry for associated fracture
  • Monitor: input of fluids and output of urine to watch for acute kidney injury, compartment syndrome and rhabdomyolysis
  • Do not forget tetanus immunization

Associated injuries

  • Cardiac arrhythmias

    Ventricular fibrillation is the most common. It occurs in 60% of patients with electrical current traveling from one hand to the other.

  • Renal - Rhabdomyolysis

    Massive tissue necrosis may result in acute kidney injury. Labs to check includes; Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Total CK, myoglobin.

  • Neurological

    Damage to both central and peripheral nervous systems can occur. The presentation may include weakness or paralysis, respiratory depression, autonomic dysfunction, memory disturbances, loss of consciousness.

  • Skin

    Degree of injury cannot determine the extent of internal damage especially with low voltage injuries. Minor surface burns may co-exist with massive muscle coagulation and necrosis.

  • Musculoskeletal

    Bones have the highest resistance of any body tissues resulting in the greatest amount of heat when exposed to an electrical current. Results in surrounding tissue damage and potentially may lead to periosteal burns, destruction of bone matrix and osteonecrosis.

  • Vascular / Coagulation system

    Due to electrical coagulation of small blood vessels or acute compartment syndrome.

  • Internal organs

    The internal organ injury is not common but when it happens may result serious problems such as bowel perforations leading to polymicrobial infection, sepsis, and death.

Disposition

Admission and discharge decisions of burn patients depend on the patient’s current situation, burn percentage according to body surface area, location of the burn, and complications of burn. Low voltage electrocutions, if they are asymptomatic with normal physical examinations, can be discharged. Discharge precautions regarding burn care and complications should be clearly explained to the patient and relatives.

Further Reading

A baby with burn!

11-month-old baby presented to the ED with a burn after accidental hot tea slippage over her. Burn is a complicated injury for many reasons. It

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Burns

by Rahul Goswami   Introduction The skin is the largest organ in the body. Its physiological purpose is to protect the body contents from foreign

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Cite this article as: Kilalo Mjema, "ELECTRIC SHOCK; Injuries beyond what the eyes see.​," in International Emergency Medicine Education Project, October 2, 2019, https://iem-student.org/2019/10/02/electric-shock-injuries-beyond-what-the-eyes-see-%e2%80%8b/, date accessed: December 11, 2023

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