Acute inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction mimicked by direct lightning strike: a case report.

Background: Direct lightning strikes are rare, and multiple organ systems can be involved. Prognosis is dependent on the severity of the injury. Severe myocardial injury associated with transient electrocardiogram changes, which have been previously described, is a hazardous complication. Case summary: A 35-year-old man with no known past medical history presented unresponsive following a direct lightning strike while sitting in a portable toilet. High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started in the field, with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after 1 h. Following ROSC, he received volume resuscitation and was maintained on multiple vasopressors. Electrocardiogram showed significant ST-elevations in inferior leads with elevated troponin I, consistent with inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Labs revealed lactic acidosis, hyperkalaemia, acute kidney, and liver injury. Due to concern for plaque rupture, coronary angiography was performed and revealed no obstructive coronary artery disease. Vasopressor support and volume resuscitation were continued for extensive burns covering greater than 30% body surface area. The patient became progressively hypotensive, eventually precipitating pulseless electrical activity arrest. Emergent labs were notable for severe acidaemia. Despite aggressive interventions, he expired due to severe multi-organ failure. Discussion: Direct lightning injuries are rare with serious potential complications. Myocardial damage, either from direct electrical insult or from induced coronary vasospasm, can lead to multi-organ system failure.

[Analysis of fatal electrical injury rates in the Russian Federation for the period of 2003 to 2021]. / Analiz pokazatelei smertel'noi elektrotravmy v Rossiiskoi Federatsii za 2003­2021 gg.

Aim of this study is to research the fatal electrical injury rate in the Russian Federation, identified during the forensic medical investigation/examination of corpses for the period of 2003 to 2021, and to detect Russian regions, where fatal electrical injury rates are significantly higher than the national average. Based on research of annual reports, it has been established, that the fatal electrical injury reaches insignificant, but relatively stable part in the total amount of violent death and fatal mechanical injury in the Russian Federation. The analysis of fatal electrical injury rates depending on Russian regions showed that the Republics of Adygea and Kalmykia, Krasnodar Territory, Rostov, Kursk and Astrakhan regions are areas with the greatest prevalence of fatal electrical injury. A comparative data analysis for the Russian Federation with the European Union countries and the CIS countries demonstrates that the fatal electrical injury has a high frequency of occurrence in our country.

A shocking injury: A clinical review of lightning injuries highlighting pitfalls and a treatment protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Lightning strikes have high morbidity and mortality rates. Thousands of fatalities are estimated to be caused by lightning worldwide, with the number of injuries being 10 times greater. However, evidence of lightning injuries is restricted to case reports and series and nonsystematic reviews. In this clinical review, we systematically select, score, and present evidence regarding lightning injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a systematic search for reviews and guidelines in the PubMed, Embase (OvidSP), MEDLINE (OvidSP), and Web of Science databases. All publications were scored according to the Levels of Evidence 2 Table of the Oxford center for Evidence-Based Medicine. The reviews were also scored using the scale for the quality assessment of narrative review articles (SANRA) and guidelines from the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation (AGREE II). RESULTS: The search yielded 536 articles. Eventually, 56 articles were included, which consisted of 50 reviews, five guidelines and one overview. The available reviews and guidelines were graded as low to moderate evidence. Most damage from lightning injuries is cardiovascular and neurological, although an individual can experience complications with any of their vital functions. At the scene, initial treatment and resuscitation should focus on those who appear to be dead, which is called the reverse triage system. We proposed an evidence-based treatment protocol for lightning strike patients. CONCLUSION: It is vital that every lightning strike patient is treated according to standard trauma guidelines, with a specific focus on the possible sequelae of lighting injuries. All emergency healthcare professionals should acknowledge the risks and particularities of treating lighting strike injuries to optimize the care and outcomes of these patients. Our evidence-based treatment protocol should help prehospital and in-hospital emergency healthcare practitioners to prevent therapeutic mismanagement among these patients.

Lightning injuries of the posterior segment of the eye.

Lightning causes serious injuries and deaths worldwide every year. Ophthalmic injuries due to lightning are due to direct or indirect transmission of electric current, resistance-induced heat, and heat-induced shock wave. PubMed search of articles related to posterior segment injuries caused by lightning using keywords (lightning injury, ophthalmic manifestations, ocular injuries, and posterior segment) was conducted, and 19 case reports in 17 articles including 29 eyes with lightning injury to the posterior segment of the eye from 1984 to 2019 were reviewed. The majority of case reports (n = 10, 53%) were from North America. Eleven patients (58%) were in the age group of 10-30 years. Most patients (n = 10, 53%) had bilateral injury. The macula was the most common site of involvement with retinal pigment epithelial changes (n = 14, 48%) being the most common manifestation. A variety of other retinal, vitreous, and electrophysiological abnormalities have also been reported. We conclude that although lightning injuries are usually mild injuries, with vision remaining, either stable or showing some improvement in the majority of cases, severe visual loss due to optic atrophy and maculopathy may occur in long term.

Investigation of the skin lesions in lightning strike death.

Lightning strike-related deaths are unusual, and the victim bodies can present different lesions due to the different injury mechanisms associated with this event. Since the post mortem assessment can be challenging, the evaluation of the characteristics of the skin lesions becomes fundamental to reconstruct the event. Due to the paucity of literature on this topic, the authors report the case of a 59-year-old man found dead near his home after a thunderstorm. Initially considered a murder by gunshot, the autopsy revealed the typical lightning strike lesions, also known as Lichtenberg figures. The adequate interpretation of the autopsy data and the histological evidences allowed to reconstruct the death dynamic and to relate it to a lightning strike. The main lesions due to lightening are here reported and discussed in order to provide a workflow for the identification of lightening as cause of death in unwitnessed cases.

Lightning Injury to Eye: Brief Review of the Literature and Case Series.

PURPOSE: In ophthalmology, injuries due to lightning strikes have been documented as various entities ranging from keratitis, cataracts, uveitis in the anterior segments to retinal detachments, papillitis, and macular hole formation in the posterior segment. We report the largest case series so far with a total of seven cases of lightning injuries with ocular involvement and its management and a brief review of the literature on this topic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All of the patients were evaluated for ocular injuries due to a lightning strike and each of the cases has been individually described as case series with their findings and management in this report. RESULTS: Ocular injuries caused by lightning are very rare, but when they occur, they can present with various ocular tissue pathology-ranging from anterior to the posterior segment structures. Most of the cases presented with maculopathy and foveschitic lesions, which resolved over time with the use of steroids. CONCLUSION: Lightning injuries to the eyes, if detected early and managed appropriately, have a very good prognosis. The recovery is usually good with minimal functional loss if there is a quick referral. The macular region seems to be particularly involved in most cases and OCT can be a valuable diagnostic tool to detect and monitor the pathology.

Secondary maternal-fetal consequences to electrical injury: A literature review.

Electrical injuries can occur in pregnant women but currently their incidence is not completely known. Notwithstanding, those represent clinical important events such maternal and fetal death, which can be avoided if properly managed. The objective of this paper is to describe the results of electrical injury (high and low voltage), in pregnant women in scientific reports. A systematic search was performed with keywords "electrical injuries", "lightning injuries", "lightning strike", "pregnant women" and "pregnancy", using the databases: MedLine, Scielo, Lilacs, Clinical key, Web of Science, Scopus, Springer, Science Direct, Embase and Medic Latina. Filters like language, time, design and availability of text were not used. Descriptive analyses were carried out for variables such as maternal-fetal consequences, voltage and type of exposure, based on the reports identified. From the total 74 cases identified, 71.1% survived after the exposition. From the total live-births 28.6% did not show any alteration, 7.1% presented maceration and burns, while 64.3% had another outcome. Electric injury leads to fetal compromise and death in exposed pregnant women, mainly in the first hours after the injury. However, monitoring should be continued for the risk of complications such as placenta abruption, oligohydramnios and fetal distress. It is possible an underreporting of these events.

Lesiones por fulguración aspectos clínicos y médicos legales. Presentación de dos casos simultáneos no mortales / Fulguration injuries: clinical and legal aspects. Presentation of two simultaneous non-fatal cases

Resumen Un relámpago o rayo es definido como una gran descarga de corriente eléctrica atmosférica, momentánea y transitoria cuya longitud de trayectoria se mide en kilómetros. Por otro lado, se denomina fulguración a los efectos biológicos gue se producen por acción de la electricidad atmosférica. Se presentan dos casos de mujeres gue sufrieron simultáneamente los efectos de un rayo y sobrevivieron, y en quienes se apreciaron las figuras de Lichtenberg, gue son patognomónicas en la fulguración. Así mismo, se hace hincapié en las demás lesiones externas por fulguración, las cuales ayudan a la evaluación médico-legal.

Abstract Lightning is defined as an electrical discharge in the atmosphere that is momentary and transitory which length is measured in kilometers. On the other hand, fulguration is related the biological effects produced by the atmospheric electricity. In this report, two simultaneous cases of lightning strikes are presented. The individuals survived and the pathognomonic Lichtenberg's figures were presented. Special emphasis is placed in the external lesions by the struck of lightning in order to help the legal-medical evaluation.

Right Hemispheric Leukoencephalopathy as an Incidental Finding Following a Lightning Strike.

BACKGROUND: Lightning injuries may produce a variety of medical conditions, and specific neurological complications have been identified, with the character of immediate aftershock effects or even long-term consequences. AIM: The authors describe the incidental finding following a routine unenhanced brain MRI performed to a young female patient, suffering from a headache. CASE REPORT: Diffuse white matter changes with the character of a leukoencephalopathy were seen, which strictly interested only the right cerebral hemisphere. The parents referred that she suffered from an indoor lightning strike at age of seven months, although she survived with almost no external burns or signs, and recovered uneventfully at that time. A discussion over the effects of electrocution and lightning strike on the human body in general, and over the nervous system, is made. Particular attention must be shown when making the differential diagnosis of leukoencephalopathies with a strictly one-hemisphere extension since several other conditions might resemble each other under the radiological aspect, here including brain viral infections, genetic disorders, and so on. CONCLUSION: The particularity of the long-term aftershock effects of the lightning strike on the central nervous system raise again the necessity of collecting data and duly reporting every electrical accident, lightning events included.

Muerte por fulguración / Death by lightning

En el Servicio Provincial de Medicina Legal de Villa Clara, se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, retrospectivo, de los fallecidos por fulguración entre el 1ro. de enero de 2009 y el 31 de diciembre de 2014, para determinar sexo, edad y ocupación de los afectados, zona y época del año de mayor ocurrencia, así como las lesiones externas más frecuentes. En el libro de registro y las actas de necropsias, se encontraron 16 fallecidos por esta causa. Predominó el sexo masculino, en la edad laboral; septiembre, mayo y junio fueron los meses de mayor incidencia. Todos los hechos ocurrieron en la zona rural, y el 62,5 %, a la intemperie. La zona noroeste de la provincia resultó la más afectada y las lesiones más frecuentes fueron las quemaduras. Aunque el número de fulguraciones no parece alto, es el fenómeno natural que provoca más muertes en Cuba.

A retrospective, longitudinal and descriptive study of deceased people due to lightning was carried out from January 1st, 2009 to December 31st, 2014 in order to determine gender, age and occupation of the affected individuals, location and time of the year of higher occurrence, as well as, the most frequent external lesions. Sixteen deaths due to this cause were registered in the logbook and in the autopsy reports. Working-age men predominated; the months with the highest incidence were September, May and June. All the incidents happened in rural area, and the 62.5 % was in the outdoors. Northwest region of the province turned out to be the most affected one and burns were the most frequent lesions. Although the number of deaths by lightning doesn't seem to be very high, this is the natural phenomenon that causes more deaths in Cuba.

[Neurological diseases after lightning strike : Lightning strikes twice]. / Neurologische Erkrankungen nach Blitzschlag : Lightning strikes twice.

Lightning strikes rarely occur but 85 % of patients have lightning-related neurological complications. This report provides an overview about different modes of energy transfer and neurological conditions related to lightning strikes. Moreover, two case reports demonstrate the importance of interdisciplinary treatment and the spectrum of neurological complications after lightning strikes.

Fisiopatología, manifestaciones sistémicas y secuelas de la fulguración en seres humanos / Pathophysiology systemic manifestations and sequelae of electrocution in humans

Un rayo es un impulso masivo de corriente unidireccional creado por un gradiente de electrones entre dos nubes o una nube y la tierra. El trauma eléctrico por lo general no es mortal, sin embargo se asocia a una serie de complicaciones médicas de importancia. Las secuelas están determinadas tanto por la intensidad de la corriente como por la duración de la aplicación energética. Las lesiones por electrofulguración ocurren por distintos mecanismos: golpe directo, lesión de contacto, “side splash”, corriente por tierra y trauma contuso. La electricidad atmosférica causa diferentes tipos de lesiones a nivel de la piel, como es el caso de las quemaduras lineales, punteadas, térmicas y en plumaje. Las figuras de Lichtenberg son patognomónicas de la electrofulguración. Además del efecto sobre el sistema tegumentario, se documentan lesiones cardiovasculares, respiratorias, gastrointestinales, oculares, auditivas y neurológicas. Cuando se presenta una muerte por electrofulguración, como pocas veces es presenciada y ocurre en espacios abiertos, se debe realizar un estudio exhaustivo del cadáver y del lugar del suceso para descartar otras causas de muerte natural o violenta. En Costa Rica en el año 2011 se presentaron 7 muertes por electrofulguración, principalmente durante la juventud y adultez temprana y a nivel de la zona rural, siendo el principal mecanismo de lesión el golpe directo.

Lightning is a massive unidirectional current that depends of an electron gradient; this electric flow travels from one cloud to another or to the ground. Electric trauma generally is not lethal, however, it is associated to several complications. Sequelae are determined both by the current strength and by the duration of the exposure. Lightning damage occurs by different mechanisms: direct strike, contact injury, side splash, ground current, and blunt trauma. Atmospheric electricity causes different skin lesions such as linear, punctate, thermal, and plumage burns. Lichtenberg figures are pathognomonic for lightning. Besides the effect on the integumentary system, respiratory, gastrointestinal, ocular, auditory, cardiovascular, and neurological injuries are documented as well. When lightning causes death, it usually happens in open places without witnesses. An exhaustive study of the cadaver and the setting of the event should be accomplished in order to exclude natural or violent causes of death. In Costa Rica in 2011, there were seven deaths related to lightning; young adults predominated and most took place in rural areas, being direct strike the main mechanism of damage.

A Patient of Lightning Injury Combined with Reversible Neurologic Deficits: A Case Report

Lightning injury can cause systemic deterioration, including neurologic deficits. We present a case of lightning injury with reversible neurologic deficits in a 49-year-old man. Clinical manifestations of neurologic deficits due to lightning injury vary from lightheadedness to paralysis. In order to achieve a favorable outcome, immediate respiratory support and careful neurologic examinations are key elements during initial resuscitation. If secondary injuries due to any type of trauma following lightning were suspected, emergency physicians should make a decision regarding use of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

Quemadura por rayo / Lightning burn

Fundamento: las quemaduras eléctricas producidas por fenómenos atmosféricos probablemente fueron las primeras y tiene una alta mortalidad. Objetivo: describir el cuadro clínico de un paciente que presentó una descarga eléctrica natural y sobrevivió al evento. Caso clínico: paciente de 37 años de edad, masculino, sin antecedentes patológicos, fue alcanzado por un rayo que conllevó a la pérdida de conciencia por varios minutos, así como quemaduras en cara, zonas del tronco anterior y posterior y miembro superior derecho que se diagnosticaron como lesiones dérmicas A de un 22 % de superficie corporal quemada, con pérdida de conciencia momentánea y complicación renal y oftalmológica posteriormente, sobrevivió al evento inicial. Conclusiones: las quemaduras por electricidad natural o fulguraciones constituyen un evento dramático con graves complicaciones y alta mortalidad.

Background: electric burns produced by atmospheric phenomena were probably the first type of burn and have a high mortality. Objective: to describe the clinical manifestations of a patient who got a natural discharge and survived. Clinical case: a thirty-seven-year-old male patient without pathological records was struck by a lightning that caused the loss of consciousness for some minutes, as well as burns of the face, the torso, the back, and the right fore limb that were diagnosed as A dermic lesions of a 22 % of the body burned. Subsequently, the patient presented momentary loss of consciousness, and ophthalmic and kidney complications. He survived the initial event. Conclusions: burns by natural electricity and fulgurations constitute a dramatic event with severe complications and a high mortality.

Propuesta metodológica para la prevención y tratamiento de las lesiones por rayos / A methodological proposal for preventing and treating those lesions caused by lightning

RESUMEN Las lesiones causadas por los rayos constituyen la primera causa de muerte en Cuba por los llamados fenómenos meteorológicos. Aproximadamente 65 cubanos mueren anualmente por esta causa. En la provincia de Pinar del Río en el año 2008 las lesiones por los rayos representaron la segunda causa de muerte por accidentes en la edad de 0-18 años y la primera de 5-14 años. En la economía los daños son cuantiosos, (afectaciones en la infraestructura de las comunicaciones y redes eléctricas en los sistemas informáticos y equipos electrodomésticos, entre otros). Así como se encuentran entre las causas principales de incendios forestales. En Cuba, por esta causa la mayor pérdida de vidas humanas se produce entre los 16 - 30 años de edad, fundamentalmente en zonas rurales. Un tercio de los casos son mortales y de los que sobreviven el 70% desarrollan secuelas frecuentes. Por no existir en la provincia de Pinar del Río una Metodología diseñada para la prevención y tratamiento de este tipo de accidente a nivel de la Atención Primaria y Secundaria de Salud, así como con la finalidad de impartir este tema en la Docencia Médica de pregrado y postgrado se decide presentar esta investigación.

ABSTRACT Lesions caused by lightning are the main cause of death in Cuba produced by the so-called meteorological phenomena estimating 65 victims yearly. In Pinar del Rio province (year 2008), this kind of lesion represented the second cause of death by accidents in the 0-18 year old group and the first cause in the 5-14 year old group. In the economy the damages are serious (damages in the infrastructure of communications and electricity plants, informatic systems and electrodomestic equipments and so on). They are also involved in the forest fires. The higher number of human deaths is observed in the 16-30 year old group in the rural areas mainly. A third of the cases is fatal and among those survivors 70% develop frequent sequela. In this province there is not a design of methodology for preventing and treating this kind of accident at primary and secundary health care and it is intended to teach this subject in the pregraduate and postgraduate medical teaching.