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PubMedDate not supplied

Peculiar atrial fibrillation in patients working with electric current.

During a period of 20 years, 8 patients with atrial fibrillation, without other cardiac abnormalities, resistant to electroconversion, but successfully defibrillated with quinidine, were examined. All were males, aged 40 to 50 years, working with electric current and exposed for many years to frequent electric shocks. The authors consider that chronic exposure to electric current induces a special form of atrial fibrillation, resistant to electric conversion. The inefficiency of the electroshock therapy in such cases might be explained by the increase of transthoracic impedance consecutive to repeated electrocutions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Technological risks in the household].

It is very difficult to calculate precisely the phenomenon of domestic accidents in Italy because of the lack of sure statistics. Some rough evaluations estimate the domestic injuries as about 800,000-1 million, with about 9,000 dead in one year, whose causes depend on down-falls, scalds, poisonings, electrocutions, etc., due to technological installations (mainly electric and gas installations) and to the human behaviour. It is supposed that on 21 million installations existing in Italy, about 14 millions are not accorded to the rules of good technology. Until now, this matter has resulted only after a domestic injury, because no legislation had been issued. At least on March, the 5th, 1990, the Law no. 45 (published on the G.U. n. 59 of March, 12th, 1990) was issued. It obliges to build also the domestic technological installations according to the rules of good technology. Resides, it fixes the professional requirements of planners, installers and testers, making also the customers responsible. But being also human mistakes causes of accidents, some acts of sensibilization, information, and formation became more and more necessary addressed also towards those people who move within domestic walls, in order to create an "anti-injury conscience" that allows to became aware of dangerous situations at a rather instinctive level and to adopt safe measures as behaviour methodologies and postures.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1989

[The humane killing of fishes, amphibia, reptiles and birds].

Methods, whether or not acceptable in the correct killing of fish, amphibians, reptiles or birds, are reviewed. The acceptable or unacceptable character of each of these techniques is commented upon. The techniques are differentiated into mechanical, chemical and physical methods. Of all mechanical techniques, rendering an animal unconscious by a sharp blow on the head, followed by rapid decapitation is an acceptable method. Of the chemical techniques, inhalation of Halothane, CO2 + O2, or ether, are usually acceptable. Cutaneous absorption by bathing in a solution of the anaesthetic tricaine sulphonate (MS 222) is the method of choice in fish and amphibians. The injectable anaesthetics T61 and pentobarbital-Na are acceptable in all groups of animals. Physical techniques such as supercooling, heating or electrocution are either unacceptable or impracticable in veterinary practice. Attention is paid to the effects of each of these techniques on the animal, the executing individual and the owner. Technical details of the methods most preferable in the humane killing of animals are discussed.

Amphibians↗
PubMed1989

[A histological study of striated muscle and nerve fiber in the human caused by a high voltage electric current].

A case of an electrocution is reported, involving a 37-year-old man who while engaged in an electrical work, received an electric shock by touching an electric wire of 11,000 volts. Both of his arms had to be amputated. A piece of muscle tissue was removed from the amputated arm to be examined by light and electron microscopy. Under light microscopy, the muscle tissue, after myoglobin staining, showed a particular pattern that closely resembled the pattern on the skin of a python. Thus the author has named the pattern seen in this case as the "Python-pattern". The electron microscopy inspection revealed on myoglobin staining excessive stretching and fragmentation of the myofibrils where the myoglobin staining was negative in the slide.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Experimental studies of the development of linear electric current marks].

UNLABELLED: By means of reconstructing electric current pathways electrophysical conditions were explored causing electrocution death in the bathtub, according to many authors quite often indicated by linear electric lesions. In our experimental settings we observed appearance of circumscribed linear marks of pallor similar to electric lesions in the region of postmortem lividity of corpses at the same level as bathtub water. None of typical histological indicators could be seen in skin samples. So no evidence was given for electric burns even under conditions of high density and extended duration of current. Similar linear marks and equivalent histological results were found when corpses were put into the bathtub filled with cold water without any experimental electric contact. CONCLUSIONS: Linear marks of pallor may occur at water level even without any electric contact to corpse or water neither bathtub. IMPLICATIONS: According to specific conditions mentioned above linear so called electric lesions at water level do not indicate electric current yet lethal electric damage.

Burns, Electric↗
PubMed1986

Safety considerations in clinical engineering.

Clinical engineering is a professional specialty which emerged in the 1960s primarily in response to concern about the hazard of electrocution in hospitals. It has already developed to encompass a much broader range of topics affecting the safe and effective use of technology in health care. However, safety remains as one major focus of clinical engineering. In this paper, issues arising in relation to electrical safety and treated in considerable detail. The next major safety area of concern involves medical gases. This area is newer and, consequently, the issues are less well resolved and therefore it is treated in less detail. Other safety issues, which are numerous, await review at some time in the future.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1986

Severe injury and death associated with home infant cardiorespiratory monitors.

Five cases of electrical injury to young children caused by misuse of components of home cardiorespiratory monitors are reported. The injuries, which included one electrocution, occurred when partially or completely disconnected electrode wires were inserted, by an older monitored child or preschool-aged sibling, into a live power cord or an uncovered wall outlet. Anticipatory guidance of home monitor users should emphasize potential electrical injuries and appropriate injury-control behaviors.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1985

Sudden death in hemodialysis patients.

Hemodialysis patients may die suddenly and unexpectedly from a number of causes. These may be divided into those deaths due directly to and occurring during hemodialysis, those deaths occurring while the patient is not undergoing dialysis, and those deaths that may occur at any time. The first group includes brain herniation, air embolism, acute hemorrhage as a result of machine malfunction or fistula rupture, electrocution, cardiac arrhythmia caused by hypokalemia, complications of subclavian intravenous catheter insertion, third-degree heart block as a result of triglyceride emulsion, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or hyperkalemia caused by overheated dialysate. The second group includes deaths due to pericardial tamponade because of effusion and suicidal causes of death (exsanguination, electrolyte imbalance as a result of excessive intake of salt, fluid, or potassium) as well as more conventional methods of suicide. The last category includes people dying of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and internal hemorrhage. Investigation of these deaths, including pertinent historical, laboratory, and autopsy data and investigation of dialysis equipment, is discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

[Pathomorphological constellation in death resulting from high voltage electricity].

Between 1968 and 1977 in Austria 38.6 per cent of all deaths due to electricity were caused by high voltages (in the decade before only 23.5 per cent). Victims are mostly middle-aged men. Three of four victims still die on the scene of accident. Based on 16 cases of fatal high tension electrocution some autopsy findings are discussed from the medico-legal point of view. One of four cases showed entrance and exit points of current resembling "typical" electric marks (as they are known from exposure to domestic voltages). In one case the marks produced by a 20,000 volts overhead-supply were so small that they have been overlooked by the medical examiner. Half the bodies exhibited major surface burns from involvement in electric arcs. About one third of the fatal accidents was accompanied by secondary mechanical traumas. Asphyxial findings (petechial hemorrhages in the eyelids and conjunctivae, as well as under the pleura and the epicardium, etc.) were noticed in two cases. Such unspecific signs of suffocation also are met, if death is caused by domestic voltages (in our material the frequency amounts to 13 per cent). One case-study deals with special morphological findings after long-time exposure to high tension electricity: besides charrings and severance of limbs also fat and gas embolism into the right ventricle (due to local tissue heating) was observed. By emission spectroscopy of residues on the copper wire calcium and phosphorus originating from melted bones could be detected.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Fatal non-transport injuries in Nairobi, Kenya.

Records from the office of the Registrar of Births and Deaths in Nairobi, Kenya, were studied with the aim of determining the magnitude of fatalities due to injuries sustained in the living environment. This information covered the period between 1986 and 1990. Data were collected over a one month period from 3rd July 1991 to 9th August 1991. The information which was collected from the death certificates included type of injury resulting in death, age and sex of the victim. The results from a total of 944 records revealed that males suffered more deaths than females (M:F ratio was 2.67:1). The most commonly occurring type of injury resulting in death was burns (22.5%). This was followed by drowning (18.1%), head injuries (18%) and suicide by hanging (12%). Stab wounds and poisoning (excluding food poisoning) each accounted for 6% of the total deaths, inhalation of vomit (5.2%) and crush injuries due to falling from a height (3.8%). Bullet wounds, asphyxia due to choking, abortion and electrocution each contributed less than 3% of total deaths. The age bracket with the highest number of deaths was between 20 years to 39 year's (51.4%) while infants and children 0-4 years alone contributed 16% of the total deaths. Since non-transport fatalities are common in all age groups, health education programmes must target both children and the adult population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Differential therapy of traumatically-induced persistent posterior shoulder dislocation. Review of the literature].

Three-hundred and twenty-nine cases of posterior dislocation of the shoulder documented in 300 articles published in the international literature are reviewed. They included 130 cases in which the duration of the dislocation was longer than 6 weeks and the dislocation could be classified as persistent primary dislocation. This group is the second largest group following that with acute primary dislocation. The mechanism of injury may be direct or indirect force: trauma, convulsions or electrocution are usually responsible for this type of dislocation, which often persists for longer than 6 weeks. Anatomically, 97.5% of dislocations are classified as subacromial. Posterior dislocation of the shoulder is commonly misdiagnosed on plain antero-posterior radiographs, and in over 50% of cases the diagnosis was missed on first examination. The typical signs of primary traumatic posterior dislocation of the shoulder are described. Management of persistent traumatic posterior dislocation of the shoulder depends on the size of the anterior Hill-Sachs lesion, the precipitating mechanism and the duration of dislocation. The results of 109 surgically and 24 conservatively treated dislocations of this type that have been published in the international literature are reviewed. Closed reduction is indicated in carefully selected cases with an anterior Hill-Sachs lesion under 15% of the size of humeral head (measured in the axillary view) that has been dislocation for less than 2 months. In most due to convulsions there was a distinct anterior Hill-Sachs lesion, which led to recurrence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arthroplasty↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Electrical shock injury.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the case of a patient who received an electrical shock injury to the back of his head and was co-managed by a neurologist and a chiropractor. The common manifestations of electrical shock injuries are presented. CLINICAL FEATURES: The patient was a 31-yr-old man. His initial symptoms consisted of headaches, dizziness, pain in the suboccipital area, tingling down both arms to the hands, nausea, blurred vision, increased sweating, chest pain, loss of appetite and memory lapses. The patient received a neurological examination, MRI of the brain, EEG, brain stem auditory evoked response and EKG. The neurologist's diagnosis was post-traumatic head syndrome following electrocution. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: He was treated by a neurologist and a chiropractor, with fair results. Chiropractic treatments were directed toward correcting the fixations, fibrotic tissue and joint proprioception in his neck using manipulation, physical therapy and active care exercises. CONCLUSION: Electrical shocks commonly cause immediate damage to the heart, nervous system and musculoskeletal system. They can also cause delayed complications days to years later, including cholelithiasis, cataracts and nervous system conditions such as ALS. Chiropractors can play an important role in managing the musculoskeletal manifestations of electrical shock injuries.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Resuscitation in special circumstances.

Basic and Advanced Life Support Guidelines should be followed as normal in cardiorespiratory arrest where there are 'special circumstances' such as near drowning, hypothermia, electrocution, poisoning, anaphylaxis and pregnancy. In order to increase the chances of a successful outcome there are specific considerations and actions that need to be taken. These will be discussed in this paper, the fifth in our resuscitation series.

Drowning↗
PubMed1993

[Malaria prevention without drugs].

One can prevent malaria without antimalaria drug by avoiding insect bites through physical and chemical means. Because of the growing problems with the drugs used for malaria prophylaxis such as resistance and side effects, prevention without drugs is becoming increasingly important again. Repellents are substances applied to the skin which effectively prevent mosquitoes from biting. The most efficient and best documented repellents are diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and dimethylphthalate (DMP). Insecticides have a direct toxic effect on the nervous system of the arthropods. Nowadays, mainly synthetic pyrethroids are used because they produce less ecological problems. Such pyrethroids are supplied in form of sprays, vaporizing mats, mosquito coils or in combination with physical means such as bed nets. Although completely ineffective against mosquitoes, systemic vitamin B1, acoustic devices and so-called electrocuting light traps are still sold and used. Travellers must be made aware that they will not get malaria if they can avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Effect of environmental factors on prevalence of epileptic seizures].

A decreased convulsant threshold is found in 10% of human population. This population is at higher risk of epileptic seizure in the case of exposure to harmful factors at working place or outside it. The following harmful factors should be taken into consideration: 1. traumas, 2. physical agents (high temperature, electrocution, specific sensory stimuli), 3. toxic agents (organic solvents, organophosphorus compounds, lead, alcohol, some drugs and narcotics). Therefore, detection of the decreased convulsant threshold and gathering knowledge about potential epileptogenic factors at working places and in community environment should become one of the goals for medical personnel dealing with occupational problems. The authors recommend to perform pre-employment EEG examination whenever an increased risk of epileptic seizure is suspected in a given person following an interview and information on working conditions. It is also recommended to supplement work safety and hygiene instructions.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Detection of metal traces in electric marks].

Report on a suicidal electrocution, in which a 29-year-old man twisted copper wires around his wrists fixing the ends to an emergency current aggregate. Heavy metal analyses of the electrical marks were performed with ICP-AES-spectrometry.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Electricity-related deaths on lakes--Oklahoma, 1989-1993.

Drowning accounts for approximately 4200 deaths each year in the United States. Although electricity is documented infrequently as a cause of such fatalities, contact with electricity can result in death through temporary paralysis and drowning of persons who are swimming or wading, or through electrocution. From June 1989 through September 1993, five persons died on lakes in Oklahoma following contact or suspected contact with electrical currents. Four deaths occurred at two adjoining lakes in northeastern Oklahoma (lake A), and one at a lake in the southern part of the state (lake B). The five deaths occurred among males aged 13-50 years who were either swimming, working on or near docks, or working with electricity when they sustained fatal injuries. This report summarizes the investigation of these deaths by medical examiners (MEs) and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).

Adolescent↗