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Electrical Injuries: Treatment & Medication
Updated: Oct 7, 2009
- Overview
- Differential Diagnoses & Workup
- Treatment & Medication
- Follow-up
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Treatment
Prehospital Care
First, rescuers should practice awareness of scene safety and be sure there is no imminent threat to bystanders or responders in attempting to remove the victim from the electrical source. For high-voltage incidents, the source voltage should ideally be turned off before rescue workers enter the scene.
After ensuring scene safety, rescuers should approach victims of electrical injuries as both trauma and cardiac patients. Patients may need basic or advanced cardiac life support. They should be C-spine immobilized prior to movement, and spine immobilization as indicated by the mechanism of injury.
Given that injuries may be limited to a ventricular arrhythmia or respiratory muscle paralysis, aggressive and prolonged CPR should be initiated in the field for all electrical injury victims, as they are likely to be younger with fewer comorbid conditions and have better chances of survival after prolonged CPR.Emergency Department Care
Stabilize patients and provide airway and circulatory support as indicated by ACLS/ATLS protocols. Obtain airway protection and provide oxygen for any patient with severe hypoxia, facial/oral burns, loss of consciousness/inability to protect airway, or respiratory distress. Full cervical spine immobilization +/- spinal immobilization as needed based on mechanism of injury. Primary survey should assess for traumatic injuries such as pneumothorax, peritonitis, or pelvic fractures.
After primary assessment, begin fluid resuscitation and titrate to urine output of 0.5-1 mL/kg/h in any patient with significant burns or myoglobinuria. Consider furosemide or mannitol for further diuresis of myoglobin. Urine alkalinization increases the rate of myoglobin clearance and can be achieved using sodium bicarbonate titrated to a serum pH of 7.5. Obtain adequate intravenous access for fluid resuscitation, whether peripheral or central. Initiate cardiac monitoring for all patients with anything more than trivial low-voltage exposures.
Burn care should include tetanus immunization as indicated, wound care, measurement of compartment pressures as indicated, and it may include early fasciotomy. Extremities with severe burns should be splinted in a functional position after careful documentation of full neurovascular examination.
The risks of electrical injury to the fetus in a pregnant patient are unknown. Pregnant women who are involved in electrical injuries should have a careful examination for traumatic injuries and obstetrical consultation. Women in the second half of pregnancy should be admitted for fetal monitoring in any cases of severe electrical injuries, high-voltage exposures, or minor electrical injuries with significant trauma.
Consultations
Patients with high-voltage electrical injuries require the ongoing care of a burn specialist, which should be instituted as early as possible, as aggressive early intervention via fasciotomy can prevent subsequent limb amputation.
Consider additional consultations with trauma/critical care, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and general surgery, depending on the type and severity of traumatic injuries.
Medication
Hydration is the key to reducing the morbidity of severe burns. If there is significant muscle damage with myoglobinuria, an osmotic diuretic and/or alkalinizing agent is indicated.
Fluids
Extravascular pooling of fluids through damaged endothelium leads to vascular hypovolemia and hypotension. Patients require fluid resuscitation with normal saline or lactated ringer.
Lactated Ringer
Essentially isotonic and has volume restorative properties.
Adult
10 mL/kg/h IV during initial resuscitation
Pediatric
Administer as in adults
None reported
Major complication of isotonic fluid resuscitation is interstitial edema; edema of extremities is unsightly but not a significant complication; edema in brain or lungs is potentially fatal; major contraindication to isotonic fluid resuscitation is pulmonary edema; added fluid promotes more edema and may lead to development of ARDS
Pregnancy
C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studied in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus
Precautions
Isotonic fluids administered during resuscitation of electrical shock require close monitoring of cardiovascular and pulmonary function; stop fluids when desired hemodynamic response is observed or pulmonary edema develops
Osmotic diuretics
Osmotic diuretics assist the kidneys in excreting myoglobin if present. They can help avoid acute renal failure in patients with significant myoglobinuria.
Mannitol (Osmitrol)
Osmotic diuretic that is not metabolized significantly and that passes through glomerulus without being reabsorbed by the kidney.
Adult
50-200 g/24 h IV; adjust dose to maintain a urinary output of 30-50 mL/h
Pediatric
<12 years: Not established
Trial doses of 0.2 g/kg IV followed by careful monitoring of urinary output may be prudent; again, with the goal of producing diuresis in the child with myoglobinuria
None reported
Documented hypersensitivity; anuria; severe pulmonary congestion; progressive renal damage; severe dehydration; active intracranial bleeding; progressive heart failure
Pregnancy
C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studied in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus
Precautions
Carefully evaluate cardiovascular status before rapid administration of mannitol because a sudden increase in intracellular fluid may lead to fulminating CHF; avoid pseudoagglutination; when blood administered simultaneously, add at least 20 mEq of sodium chloride to each liter of mannitol solution; do not administer electrolyte-free mannitol solutions with blood
Loop diuretics
These agents decrease plasma volume and edema by causing diuresis.
Furosemide (Lasix)
Proposed mechanisms for furosemide in lowering intracranial pressure include (1) lowering cerebral sodium uptake, (2) affecting water transport into astroglial cells by inhibiting cellular membrane cation-chloride pump, and (3) decreasing CSF production by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase.
Dose must be individualized to patient.
Adult
Initial dosage: 20-40 mg IV slowly
Adjust dosage to maintain urinary output at 30-50 mL/h
Pediatric
Not established
Metformin decreases furosemide concentrations; furosemide interferes with hypoglycemic effects of antidiabetic agents and antagonizes muscle-relaxing effect of tubocurarine; auditory toxicity appears to be increased with coadministration of aminoglycosides and furosemide; hearing loss of varying degrees may occur; anticoagulant activity of warfarin may be enhanced when taken concurrently with this medication; increased plasma lithium levels and toxicity are possible when taken concurrently with this medication
Documented hypersensitivity; hepatic coma; anuria; state of severe electrolyte depletion
Pregnancy
C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studied in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus
Precautions
Perform frequent serum electrolyte, carbon dioxide, glucose, creatinine, uric acid, calcium, and BUN determinations during first few months of therapy and periodically thereafter
More on Electrical Injuries |
| Overview: Electrical Injuries |
| Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Electrical Injuries |
 Treatment & Medication: Electrical Injuries |
| Follow-up: Electrical Injuries |
| Multimedia: Electrical Injuries |
| References |
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Further Reading
Keywords
electrical injury, electrical shock, electrical burns, lightning injury, electrocution, low-voltage injury, high-voltage injury, nerve depolarization, muscle depolarization, alternating current injury, AC injury, thermal burns, electrical flashes, direct current electrical injuries, DC electrical injuries, flash burns, arc burns, contact burns, internal electrical injury, external electrical energy, burn treatment, electrical injury treatment, myoglobinuria, myoglobinemia, lightning strike
