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Electrical Injuries - Coggle Diagram
Electrical Injuries
Resistance
Increases thermal injury
Tissues
Bone
Skin
Nerve
Muscle
Blood
Body Fluids
Causes necrosis
Entrance and exit wounds
Superficial appearance may not show deeper injuries
Voltage
Mechanism
muscle contraction
Rhabdomyalysis
Cardiac arrythmias
Thermal burns
<1000 volts
UK domestic appliance 240V 50Hz
Skin offers reasonable impedance which is reduced if wet
1000 volts
11000-33000 in high-tension transmission wires
11000 often fatal
DC vs AC
DC = single muscle contraction and victim thrown
AC = muscle tetany and prolonged grip
Management
Current
Cardiac arrythmias
60mA 50Hz AC
300-500mA DC
VF
Microshock
Small current passes directly to the heart eg. via pacemaker
20mA
Complications
Respiratory arrest
Altered mentation
Apinal cord injury
Complex regional pain syndrome
AKI
Rhabdomyalysis
A-E
Fluid resiscitation
Early fasciotomy
Serial CK, trop
Referall to burns centre
Risk factors
Young males
Children
Occupation