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Effect on specific organ systems

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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effects on specific organ systems

Electrical injuries may vary from transient unpleasant sensation (without an apparent injury) to massive tissue damage with life threatening internal organ damage.

  • cardiac
    • arrhythmias
      • is the commonest complication
      • includes - supraventricular arrhythmias (sinus tachycardia, atrial extrasystoles or atrial fibrillation) and ventricular arrhythmias (extrasystoles, tachycardia, or fibrillation)
      • majority of life threatening events are seen immediately after shock, but delayed ventricular arrhythmias have been reported (up to 12 hours in both low and high voltage accidents)
    • bradycardia
      • results from interference with the normal electrical activity of the heart
      • can occur months or years after the accidents
    • heart muscle injury
      • caused by reduced blood supply or direct tissue death (necrosis)
      • patient may not complain about chest pain, it may manifest as
        • increased myocardial proteins (troponins)
        • other abnormalities such as altered contraction patterns on echocardiography or cardiac MRI
      • rarely, myocardial infarction can be caused by blood clots or spasms (mostly after high voltage accidents)
      • cardiac function recovers soon after the incident, but abnormalities may persist in some instances
  • respiratory
    • may cause paralysis of respiratory muscles (such as diaphragm) or cause them to seize up abruptly (titanic contraction) by interfering with normal nerve conduction
    • inhibition of centre controlling breathing in the brain
  • skin
    • loss of body fluids and infection due to loss of skin barrier may occur due to extensive burn
  • neurological
    • nerve tissue damage may result in loss of consciousness, impaired recall, spinal cord injury, paralysis, loss of sensations in limbs
    • neuropsychological problems, although rare have been reported e.g. - post traumatic stress disorder, depression, chronic neuropathic pain
  • vascular
    • blood clots caused by vessel wall injury may compromise blood flow to organs
  • kidney
    • myoglobin released by damaged muscles may cause tubular precipitations
  • musculoskeletal
    • bone fractions and luxations
    • rhabdomyolysis
    • compartment syndrome

Reference:

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