Profile of deaths due to electrocution: A retrospective study.

We carried out a retrospective analysis of deaths due to electrocution from the medico-legal deaths reported to our institution. Majority of the victims were males belonging to the age group of 11-50 years. Almost all deaths were accidental and most of them were concentrated in the period of monsoon implicating the important role of wetness in causing these deaths. In contrast to the studies done in the West, bathtubs, heaters or hair dryers were not involved in any of the deaths. The mortality rate due to electrocution was significantly higher at 4.4 per one lakhs (100000) population in the present study as against the figures of 0.94 and 0.14 from Bulgaria and Canada respectively. Most of the deaths were either instantaneous or immediate and most of the deaths were preventable by electrocution. It signifies that people living at home did not have elementary knowledge of risks of electrocution; therefore awareness about use of good quality electric appliances and cables is the need of the hour.

Caracterización clínica del paciente quemado por electricidad / Clinical characterization of the electrical burn patient

Se realizó un estudio sobre la morbilidad por quemaduras eléctricas en pacientes hospitalizados en la Unidad de Caumatología del Instituto Superior de Medicina Militar Dr Luis Díaz Soto, en el periodo comprendido de diciembre de 1975 a diciembre de 2004, con el objetivo de determinar las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de este tipo de lesionado. El universo de trabajo estuvo conformado por 208 pacientes con un predominio del sexo masculino de la tercera década de la vida, lo que representó el 98,1 por ciento. En 139 pacientes el contacto directo con la electricidad fue el mecanismo de producción del accidente y en el 76 por cientolas extremidades las regiones anatómicas más afectadas, requirieron tratamiento quirúrgico la séptima parte de los pacientes. Quedó demostrado que este es un trauma complejo, que la inmediatez de la atención especializada y la presencia de un equipo interdisciplinario fue decisivo para garantizar la supervivencia.

A study on morbidity from electrical burns in patients admitted in the Burn Unit of Dr Luis Díaz Soto Higher Institute of Military Medicine, from December 1975 to December 2004, was conducted to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of this type of injured. The working universe consisted of 208 patients with a predominance of third age males, accounting for 98.1 percent. In 139 patients, the direct contact with electricity was the mechanism causing accidents. In 76 percent, the extremities were the more affected anatomical areas. A seventh of the patients required surgical treatment. It was demonstrated that this is a complex trauma, and that the immediate specialized care, and the presence of an interdisciplinary team were decisive to guarantee survival.