Outcomes of electrical injuries in the emergency department: epidemiology, severity predictors, and chronic sequelae.

Introduction: Electrical injuries (EIs) represent a significant clinical challenge due to their complex pathophysiology and variable presentation, ranging from minor burns to severe internal organ damage. Despite their prevalence in both; domestic and occupational settings, there remains a rareness...

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Publicado en:European Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
Autores principales: Karray, Rym, Chakroun-Walha, Olfa, Mechri, Folla, Salem, Imen, Drira, Hanen, Nasri, Abdennour, Damak, Ayman, Rekik, Noureddine
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Springer Nature 1/27/2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
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        atl: Outcomes of electrical injuries in the emergency department: epidemiology, severity predictors, and chronic sequelae.
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          Karray, Rym
          Chakroun-Walha, Olfa
          Mechri, Folla
          Salem, Imen
          Drira, Hanen
          Nasri, Abdennour
          Damak, Ayman
          Rekik, Noureddine
        affil: https://ror.org/04d4sd432 Emergency Department, Habib bourguiba university hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Majida Boulila Avenue, Sfax, Tunisia
      sug:
        subj:
          Trauma
          Electric Injuries Epidemiology
          Severity of Injury Evaluation
          Electric Injuries Physiopathology
          Electric Injuries Complications
          Risk Assessment
          Burns, Electric Complications
          Human
          Retrospective Design
          Burns
          Medical Records
          Record Review
          Electric Injuries Mortality
          Child
          Adolescence
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Electrocardiography
          Tetany
          Heart Arrest
          Rhabdomyolysis
          Kidney Failure, Acute
          Mental Disorders
          Multidisciplinary Care Team
          Descriptive Statistics
          Child: 6-12 years
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
      ab: Introduction: Electrical injuries (EIs) represent a significant clinical challenge due to their complex pathophysiology and variable presentation, ranging from minor burns to severe internal organ damage. Despite their prevalence in both; domestic and occupational settings, there remains a rareness of systematic guidelines and comprehensive literature to aid clinicians in effectively managing these injuries. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing protocols that can mitigate the risk of delayed complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias, in patients who initially appear stable. Objectives: This study aims to elucidate the epidemiology, clinical outcomes, and predictors of severe presentation in EIs, providing insights to improve patient assessment and management strategies. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over 4 years. Data were collected from standardized medical records. The group of patients with severe complications included those who presented a life-threatening cardiac, respiratory, neurological, or biological impairment or died within the first 48 h of the EI. Results: We enrolled 118 cases of electrical injury (EI). Ages ranged from 4 to 82 years, with 31.3% under 15. EI incidence peaked in summer, with 63.5% being home accidents. High-voltage injuries occurred in 13.6%. The most common ED complaints were burns in children (59.5%) and trauma in adults (48.1%). ECG abnormalities correlated with tetany (p = 0.016), and palpitations (p = 0.014). Complications included cardiac arrest (n = 8), rhabdomyolysis (n = 23), and acute renal injury (n = 9). Severe EI was linked to respiratory distress and creatine kinase levels higher than ≥ 253 UI/l. A normal ECG within 1 h post-injury was correlated to a low risk of severe EI. At 2-year follow-up, 43.9% of survivors reported aesthetic sequelae, 25.3% had psychological disorders, and 7% of adults could not return to their previous occupations. Conclusion: EIs are frequent, with diverse clinical presentations requiring multidisciplinary care. Awareness of potential delayed complications is essential, and prevention is crucial.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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