The importance of electrocardiography in the clinical course of electric injuries

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of electrical injuries, type of electrical current and the importance of electrocardiography in clinical course. METHODS: Fifty-three patients (50 males [94.3%], 3 females [5.7%]; mean age 34.5 +/- 9.6; range 19 to 61 years) with electrical injuries treated in the burn center between 2011 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were evaluated for demographic and clinical characteristics, electrocardiographic findings and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The electrocardiography findings of the patients were as follows: twenty-seven normal, twelve sinus tachycardia, three atrial fibrillation, seven right bundle brunch block, and four ventricular extra-systole. There was no mortality among patients with electrocardiographic findings of normal, right bundle brunch block, and ventricular extra-systole. Four patients with sinus tachycardia and one patient with atrial fibrillation died. Electrocardiographic findings of the patients wounded by high-voltage electricity were: two normal, two sinus tachycardia, and one atrial fibrillation. DISCUSSION: Mortality was higher in patients with sinus tachycardia and atrial fibrillation in the electrocardiography at the time of admission. These ECG findings were more often in patients wounded by high-voltage electricity. Therefore, electrocardiographic findings and type of the electrical current may provide prognostic value in the clinical course of patients.