21/198. Acute transverse myelitis following electrical injury: a short report. We report a 30 years lady who developed transverse myelitis following an accidental electric shock and later recovered completely. ( info) |
| Here we report about a 35-year-old electrical engineer who was found dead in his study. Postmortem examination revealed that death resulted because of subarachnoid and intraventricular hemorrhage caused by the rupture of an intracranial aneurysm. Right hand and left cheek revealed electrical marks with metallizations on skin, an electric shock was diagnosed to have preceded death. The close temporal correlation suggests that a sudden rise in blood pressure was caused by the electric current and was thus responsible for the rupture of the aneurysm. ( info) |
23/198. Internal current mark in a case of suicide by electrocution. Fatalities caused by electrocution often lack specific morphologic evidence. Investigation of the death scene along with technical inspection of the electrical apparatus may help in clarifying the cause and manner of death. Cutaneous current marks may be the only sign of low voltage associated fatalities. The authors report a case of an electrician who committed suicide by electrocution using a time switch after oral ingestion of diazepam. electrodes (coins) were fixed with adhesive tape at the height of the heart to the front and back of the left side of the chest. autopsy revealed a blackish linear mark on the pleura parietalis of the inner side of the thoracic cavity, connecting the cutaneous current marks. Current-related and heat-related changes, such as hypercontraction bands of the intercostal muscles and coagulative changes of the perineurium of peripheral nerves, were found at histologic examination. Taking into consideration that the body had been under the influence of low-voltage current for 7 days, the morphologic alteration on the pleura parietalis was in accordance with an internal current mark, indicating the main route of current flow through the body. To the authors' knowledge, such a current-related phenomenon has not been reported to occur on an inner body surface before. ( info) |
24/198. Peripheral nerve compression associated with low-voltage electrical injury without associated significant cutaneous burn. Although peripheral-nerve injury has been described as clearly related to electrical injury, that electrical injury is usually associated with third- and often fourth-degree burns. The report presented here describes three cases of low-voltage electrical injury with associated peripheral-nerve symptoms but without clinically significant cutaneous burns. The symptoms and clinical findings resembled peripheral-nerve compression. The presence of these symptoms and findings in the upper- and lower-extremities and the presence of bilateral involvement suggest a systemic electrical injury that resembles a peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms were relieved by the decompression of nerves at multiple sites in each extremity. Perineurial fibrosis was identified at the time of nerve decompression. It is proposed that the electrical injury causes maximal heat production at areas of minimal limb cross-sectional area. In these areas, the peripheral nerve is in close proximity to bone and fibrous tissue. This results in perineurial fibrosis and symptoms of a compressive peripheral neuropathy. ( info) |
25/198. Diabetes unmasked by electric shock. Following an accidental electric shock, a boy with no previous symptoms developed hyperglycaemia, rapidly evolving into diabetes. He was aglycosuric for 24 hours after the shock. Islet cell antibodies were shown shortly after the accident. Although destined to develop diabetes, it seems likely that the electric shock unmasked impaired glucose tolerance. glucose homoeostasis should be monitored in children following significant electric shocks. ( info) |
| Transient or permanent diabetes insipidus (DI) due to damage in vasopressinergic neurons--which may be hereditary or caused by head injury, brain surgery, tumors, granulomatous disorders, infections, vascular disorders, autoimmunity, and idiopathic causes--is not rare. Hypothalamic hypothyroidism is due to decreased thyrotropin-releasing hormone secretion and is seen rarely. We report a case of transient hypothalamic hypothyroidism and transient DI due to electrical injury. ( info) |
27/198. Microampere electrocution during haemodialysis -- an unrecognised cause of sudden death. A case of electrocution during haemodialysis is reported. Danger of microampere electrocution via artificial kidneys is emphasized. Prophylactic measures are recommended. ( info) |
28/198. Myelopathy and amnesia following accidental electrical injury. OBJECTIVE: documentation of MRI and neurophysiological changes following accidental electrical injury. SETTING: Tertiary care referral teaching hospital at Lucknow, india. RESULTS: A 30-year-old lady developed amnesia and spastic paraparesis with loss of pin prick sensation below the second thoracic spinal segment following electrocution. Her spinal MRI was normal and cranial MRI revealed T2 hyperintensity in the right putamen. Peroneal, sural and electromyography were normal. Tibial central sensory conduction time was normal but central motor conduction time to lower limbs and right upper limb was prolonged. CONCLUSION: Neurophysiological study and MRI may help in understanding the pathophysiological basis of neurological sequelae following electrical injury. ( info) |
29/198. Cutaneous manifestations of lightning injury. This report calls attention to a bizarre, almost pathognomonic, cutaneous feature of lightning injury. It has been variously described as "lightning prints," "arborescent" burns, or "feathering," and has long been neglected in the dermatologic literature. Its recognition may be lifesaving in the unaccompanied comatose patient and is important because even delayed resuscitation of lightning victims can be very successful. ( info) |
30/198. The neurological complications of electrical injury: a nursing case management perspective. High-energy electrical injury, whether from lightning strike or electrical shock, occurs primarily in the workplace. Neurological dysfunction can be a devastating complication of electrical injury. A review of the literature was undertaken to develop a better understanding of the epidemiology, mechanisms of injury and neuropathology associated with this type of injury. The numerous challenges inherent in the management of these complex cases were illustrated by three case studies. ( info) |