The Mechanism of Death in Electrocution: A Historical Review of the Literature.

Our present understanding of electrocution followed a long path of detours and speculation. It is now hard to appreciate how mysterious was an unexpected sudden death-without visible trauma-and we should be sympathetic to the surprising theories that came from well-intentioned attempts to find something in the autopsy of an electrocution victim.The early hypotheses (1880s) tended to favor effects on the central nervous system, but the emphasis switched to arterial and hematological mechanisms as well as respiratory arrest (ie, asphyxia) along with a widespread publication debate.

The electrophysiology of electrocution.

Electrocution is a death caused by an application of electrical current to the human body. Our present understanding of electrocution-as the induction of ventricular fibrillation (VF)-followed a nearly century-long path of misunderstandings and speculation primarily focused on hypotheses of asphyxia as well as central nervous system trauma. It is hard for us today to appreciate the past mystery of an unexpected sudden death usually bereft of visible trauma.

Output of Electronic Muscle Stimulators: Physical Therapy and Police Models Compared.

Introduction: Both physical therapists and police officers use electrical muscle stimulation. The typical physical therapist unit is attached with adhesive patches while the police models use needle-based electrodes to penetrate clothing. There have been very few papers describing the outputs of these physical therapy EMS (electrical muscle stimulator) units.

Electrical weapons and rhabdomyolysis.

It has been suggested that an application of a conducted electrical weapon (CEW) might cause muscle injury such as rhabdomyolysis and an acute inflammatory response. We explored this hypothesis by testing the effects of electrical weapons on circulating markers of inflammation and muscle damage. In a prospective study, 29 volunteers received a full-trunk 5-s TASER® X26(E) CEW exposure.

Electrical weapons, hematocytes, and ischemic cardiovascular accidents.

Background: There have been case reports following the use of a conducted electrical weapon (CEW) suggesting that these devices might affect coagulation or thrombosis in at-risk individuals. The aim of this manuscript therefore is firstly to explore this hypothesis by reviewing each of these cases and secondly to report the results of a prospective study exploring a priori the effects of electrical weapons on hematocytes in a group of human volunteers.

Methods: First, we systematically reviewed all cases of adverse outcomes following CEW discharge that could be due to an effect on coagulation or thrombosis, with particular focus on the clinical scenario and its relationship with the weapon discharge.

Lung Cancer Screening at a Military Treatment Facility: A Retrospective Review.

Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women, accounting for more fatalities than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Smoking causes about 85% of all lung cancers in the United States and is the single greatest risk factor. In 2013, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published initial guidelines for low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening (LCS) among patients 55-80 years old, with a 30-pack-year history, who are current smokers or who quit within the previous 15 years.

First rib fracture: A harbinger of severe trauma?

Background: Prior to routine CT scanning, first rib fractures (FRFs) were considered a harbinger of great vessel injuries. We hypothesized FRFs identified on screening CXR have significant associated injuries, while those identified on CT alone do not.

Methods: We reviewed adult blunt thoracic trauma patients 2014-2015 to identify all FRFs and then tabulated demographics, injury characteristics, and outcomes.

Potential Uses of Isolated Toxin Peptides in Neuropathic Pain Relief: A Literature Review.

Neuropathic pain is a subset of chronic pain that is caused by neurons that are damaged or firing aberrantly in the peripheral or central nervous systems. The treatment guidelines for neuropathic pain include antidepressants, calcium channel α delta ligands, topical therapy, and opioids as a second-line option. Pharmacotherapy has not been effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain except in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with carbamazepine.

Potential for Intrathecal Baclofen in Treatment of Essential Tremor.

Introduction: Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder of adults, affecting an estimated 7 million Americans. Symptoms of ET range from slightly noticeable to debilitating, with 1 cohort study finding 15% of patients were forced into early retirement. Additionally, depression has also been correlated with the severity of disability of ET.

The stability of electrically induced ventricular fibrillation.

The first recorded heart rhythm for cardiac arrest patients can either be ventricular fibrillation (VF) which is treatable with a defibrillator, or asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA) which are not. The time course for the deterioration of VF to either asystole or PEA is not well understood. Knowing the time course of this deterioration may allow for improvements in emergency service delivery.

Essentials of low-power electrocution: established and speculated mechanisms.

Even though electrocution has been recognized--and studied--for over a century, there remain several common misconceptions among medical professional as well as lay persons. This review focuses on "low-power" electrocutions rather than on the "high-power" electrocutions such as from lightning and power lines. Low-power electrocution induces ventricular fibrillation (VF).

Seasonal variation of mortality in the Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) study registry.

Objectives: We postulated that the pattern of death would be nonrandom with respect to temporal variables.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated increased sudden death is associated with periods of relative stress, and overall mortality is associated with temporal variables.

Methods: In the Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) registry, vital status was obtained for 4,450 patients (who had a recent episode of sustained ventricular arrhythmias or unexplained syncope and inducible ventricular tachycardia) through the National Death Index Service as of December 31, 1997 (follow-up 25.