Abstract
Objectives
To assess the prevalence of neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms in the short-term
and 1 year after an electric shock and to explore whether any of these were associated
with risk factors.
Methods
Patients presenting to one of 21 EDs between October 2000 and November 2004 were eligible
to be enrolled in a prospective observational study after an electric shock if they
had risk factors for late arrhythmias. Telephone follow-up was done to evaluate the
appearance of symptoms.
Results
A total of 30 (26%) of 114 patients complained of neurologic or neuropsychological
symptoms at a median of 52 days post–electric shock. At 1 year, 24 (28%) of 86 patients
complained of neurologic or neuropsychological symptoms. None of the risk factors
evaluated were associated with the symptoms.
Conclusion
The prevalence of the symptoms we observed should alarm all emergency physicians that
the effect of electricity can cause late neurologic and neuropsychological manifestations.
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
June 28,
2007
Received in revised form:
June 22,
2007
Received:
May 12,
2007
Footnotes
☆This study was supported by a grant from Hydro-Québec.
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
