[Lightning stroke].
A case is reported of a 23 year old white man who was struck by lightning. The patient suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest. Immediately, he received external cardiac massage and artificial breathing, which were successful. He was then admitted to an intensive care unit, where the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction was made, on the basis of electrocardiographic abnormalities, a significative elevation of cardiac enzymes, and ultimately a thallium-201 scintigraphy. There were no complications of this heart injury, except for a persistent sinus tachycardia, which was treated by the infusion of a beta-blocking agent (oxprenolol). This case showed the importance of rapidly undertaking resuscitative measures in these circumstances, and to admit such a patient to an intensive care unit to undergo continuous cardiac monitoring, because the possibility of potentially serious cardiac complications, like life-threatening cardiac rhythm disturbances or acute myocardial infarction, as well as preventive, or curative, treatment of the complications which may follow lightning injury. This attitude is justified by the usually excellent prognosis of these patients.
D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008030:Lightning; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012151:Resuscitation
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