Electrical Injuries in Emergency Medicine Questions & Answers

Updated: Mar 09, 2020
  • Author: Tracy A Cushing, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAWM; Chief Editor: Joe Alcock, MD, MS  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What are electrical injuries and how do they occur?

How should occupational electrical injuries be documented?

What is the pathophysiology of electrical injuries?

What is the role of voltage in the pathogenesis of electrical injuries?

What is the role of current in the pathogenesis of electrical injuries?

What is the role of resistance in the pathogenesis of electrical injuries?

What is the role of the circuit type in the pathogenesis of electrical injuries?

What are the types of electrical burns?

What is the pathophysiology of electrical injuries from direct contact?

What is the pathophysiology of electrical injuries from electrical arcs?

What is the pathophysiology of electrical injuries from flame?

What is the pathophysiology of electrical flash burns?

How do electrical injuries occur?

How does high-voltage alternating current cause electrical injuries?

How does low-voltage alternating current cause electrical injuries?

How does direct current cause electrical injuries?

What is the prevalence of electrical injuries in the US?

What are the racial predilections of electrical injuries?

What are the sexual predilections of electrical injuries?

How does the incidence of electrical injuries vary by age?

What is the prognosis of electrical injuries?

Presentation

What are the signs and symptoms of electrical injuries?

Which clinical history findings are characteristics of low-voltage alternating current (AC) injury?

Which clinical history findings are characteristics of high-voltage alternating current (AC) injury?

Which clinical history findings are characteristics of direct current (DC) injury?

What is the role of conducted electrical devices in the pathogenesis of electrical injuries?

Which physical findings are characteristic of electrical flash burns?

Which physical findings are characteristic of electrical contact burns?

Which physical findings are characteristic of electrical injuries?

Which cardiovascular findings are characteristic of electrical injuries?

Which respiratory findings are characteristic of electrical injuries?

How are the cutaneous findings of electrical injuries characterized?

Which physical findings are characteristic of high-voltage electrothermal burns?

Which physical findings are characteristic of electrical arc burns?

Which physical findings are characteristic of electrical flame burns?

Which physical findings are characteristic of low-voltage electrical injuries?

Which physical findings are characteristic of pediatric oral electrical injuries?

Which neurologic findings are characteristic of electrical injuries?

Which musculoskeletal findings are characteristic of electrical injuries?

Which physical findings on the head are characteristic of electrical injuries?

What are the possible complications of low-voltage electrical injuries?

What are the possible complications of high-voltage electrical injuries?

DDX

What are the differential diagnoses for Electrical Injuries in Emergency Medicine?

Workup

What is the role of lab studies in the diagnosis of electrical injuries?

What is the role of imaging studies in the diagnosis of electrical injuries?

What is the role of ECG and cardiac monitoring in the evaluation of electrical injuries?

When is central venous access indicated in the management of electrical injuries?

What is the role of fasciotomy in the evaluation of electrical injuries?

Treatment

What is included in prehospital care for electrical injuries?

How are electrical injuries treated in the emergency department (ED)?

When is inpatient care indicated for the treatment of electrical injuries?

When is patient transfer indicated for the treatment of electrical injuries?

Which specialist consultations are beneficial to patients with electrical injuries?

How are electrical injuries prevented?

What is included in the long-term monitoring of electrical injuries?

Medications

Which medications are used in the treatment of electrical injuries?

Which medications in the drug class Loop diuretics are used in the treatment of Electrical Injuries in Emergency Medicine?

Which medications in the drug class Osmotic diuretics are used in the treatment of Electrical Injuries in Emergency Medicine?

Which medications in the drug class Fluids are used in the treatment of Electrical Injuries in Emergency Medicine?