Original Article

Noninvasive Electrophysiological Effects of Lightning Strike: Case Series

10.5152/jaem.2011.021

  • Yahya İslamoğlu
  • Habib Çil
  • Mustafa Baştürk
  • Ebru Tekbaş
  • Mehmet Ali Elbey

Received Date: 20.11.2010 Accepted Date: 02.03.2011 Eurasian J Emerg Med 2011;10(3):97-99

Objectives:

Lightning is a frequent natural disasters, and may result in death at a rate of up to 20-30% of affected patients. The most common cause of death in these cases is cardiac arrest. In addition, deaths can occur due to injury of the respiratory center.

Material and Methods:

In the literature, there are many case reports regarding lightning injuries. Howewer, there are only a few studies on the effects of lightning strike on the heart. In this paper, we specifically investigate the noninvasive electrophysiological effects of lightning strike on the heart.

Results:

Ventricular fibrillation, asystole, supraventricular tachycardia, QT prolongation and nonspecific ST-T changes may occur in patients with lightning injury. However, there is no typical electrocardiogram (ECG) sign/signs of lightning injury.

Conclusion:

Electrocardiographic changes due to lightning strike depend on the severity and duration of exposure of the body.

Keywords: Noninvasive electrophysiology, lightning