Electrocution-induced atrial fibrillation: a novel cause of a familiar arrhythmia

A previously fit and well 40-year-old man presented to the emergency department with palpitations after suffering an 11 000 volt electrical shock from overhead power cables through a mobile crane which he was operating. His ECG demonstrated the presence of new atrial fibrillation at a rate of 80 bea...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ case reports 2012-04, Vol.2012 (apr04 1), p.bcr0120125530-bcr0120125530
Main Authors: Langford, Alex, Dayer, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Amiodarone - administration & dosage
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - administration & dosage
Atrial Fibrillation - drug therapy
Atrial Fibrillation - etiology
Biomarkers - blood
Cardiac arrhythmia
Cardioversion
Electric Injuries - complications
Electrocardiography
Electrocutions
Europe (West)
Hemodynamics
Humans
Male
Sinuses
Stroke
Thyroid gland
Unusual Presentation of More Common Disease/Injury
White
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A previously fit and well 40-year-old man presented to the emergency department with palpitations after suffering an 11 000 volt electrical shock from overhead power cables through a mobile crane which he was operating. His ECG demonstrated the presence of new atrial fibrillation at a rate of 80 beats per min. He was haemodynamically stable, and had otherwise only sustained a small exit burn to his left great toe. Routine blood tests including creatine kinase and troponin T were normal. A bolus of intravenous flecainide failed to restore sinus rhythm, but an amiodarone infusion was successful. An electrical shock is a rare cause of atrial fibrillation. There is no consensus over optimal medical management. Numerous treatment plans have been previously employed with varying degrees of success.
ISSN:1757-790X
1757-790X
DOI:10.1136/bcr.01.2012.5530