- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Part 17.1 Drowning
- Part 17.2 Electrocution
- Chapter 349 Pathophysiology and management of electrocution
- Part 17.3 Altitude- and depth-related disorders
- Part 17.4 Temperature related disorders
- Part 17.5 Rhabdomyolysis
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 1669) Pathophysiology and management of electrocution
- Chapter:
- (p. 1669) Pathophysiology and management of electrocution
- Author(s):
Jeffrey S. Neiger
and Richard G. Trohman
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0349
Electrocution is a common source of morbidity and mortality, primarily affecting young children through accidents in the home and adults through occupational exposure. A familiarity with the basic principles of electrical physics helps elucidate the typical injuries sustained following electrical shock. Although death is a frequent result, patients successfully resuscitated following initial cardiopulmonary arrest often have a favourable prognosis. Survivors of electrocution may suffer injuries to a variety of organ systems, including the skin, cardiovascular system, and nervous system, and are generally treated in specialized burn units. Such patients are considered trauma patients, and should be treated accordingly. Determination of prognosis is often difficult, because the full extent of injury from electric shock is not always initially apparent.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Part 17.1 Drowning
- Part 17.2 Electrocution
- Chapter 349 Pathophysiology and management of electrocution
- Part 17.3 Altitude- and depth-related disorders
- Part 17.4 Temperature related disorders
- Part 17.5 Rhabdomyolysis
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care