The need for cardiac monitoring after electrical injury.
OBJECTIVE
A common clinical problem in hospital emergency departments in the patient who presents after receiving an electric shock from the 240 volt domestic supply and who is asymptomatic with a normal electrocardiogram. This paper examines the need to monitor these patients.


METHODS
The medical records of all patients with electrical injuries who were admitted to Westmead Hospital in a 10-year period were retrospectively studied, and the management policy for this type of problem was surveyed in 36 hospitals around Australia.


CONCLUSIONS
The 70 admissions in the retrospective study and the bulk of evidence in the literature support what appears to be the most common current policy in Australian emergency departments --that is, to discharge patients who have had 240 volt electric shock provided that they are asymptomatic and have a normal electrocardiogram.
Cunningham
P A
PA
Accident and Emergency Department, Westmead Hospital, NSW.
D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors