Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias following electrical injury falls in a minority. Atrial arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation secondary to electrical shock are even more uncommon. This is a case report of AF requiring pharmacological cardioversion on a 41 year old female following an electrical shock. Initial attempt of electrical cardioversion had failed. Successful pharmacological cardioversion was achieved after 6 hours of amiodarone infusion (12-13 hours after the electric shock). Baseline electrocardiography showed normal pattern post cardioversion. Serum cardiac specific markers, electrolytes, thyroid function, chest x-ray and echocardiographic reports were all within normal limits.Nepalese Heart Journal 2016; 13(1): 31-34
Highlights
Cardiac arrhythmia following electrical injury is uncommon
Respectively but failed to revert the rhythm to sinus. She was transferred to Coronary Care Unit for medical cardioversion and started on amiodarone 150 mg IV bolus followed by 1mg/min IV infusion for 6 hours and 0.5mg/min IV infusion over 18 hours according to standard protocol
The mechanism behind electrically induced cardiac arrest is not entirely clear but patchy areas of myocardial necrosis that serve as arrhythmogenic foci, as well as increased cardiac sodium-potassium pump activity is postulated.[9]
Summary
Cardiac arrhythmia following electrical injury is uncommon. Most arrhythmias following electric shock include premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, bundle branch block, and complete heart block.[1, 2] These arrhythmias are more common with alternating current (AC) with higher voltage. A 41 years old female presented to emergency department with the complain of palpitations and progressive shortness of breath 6 hours after an electric shock from an alternating current source It occurred when she accidentally came into contact with a live wire of an electrical appliance with her wet hands. DC Electric cardioversion was attempted using biphasic defibrillator thrice at the strength of 100J, 200J, 200J respectively but failed to revert the rhythm to sinus She was transferred to Coronary Care Unit for medical cardioversion and started on amiodarone 150 mg IV bolus followed by 1mg/min IV infusion for 6 hours and 0.5mg/min IV infusion over 18 hours according to standard protocol. She was followed up 2 weeks later, free of complaints and the 12 lead ECG was normal
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
