Lightning injury: two case histories and a review of management.
Two cases of fatal lightning injury are described. Fixed dilated pupils should not be taken as an indicator of death after a lightning strike. Persons who fail to breath spontaneously within one minute of lightning shock should receive external cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Paralysis may persist as result of cerebral oedema or prolonged hypoxia-it is therefore suggested that adequate ventilation and metabolic balance should be maintained until recovery or death.
D000293:Adolescent; D001049:Apnea / Q000209:etiology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006336:Heart Massage; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications; D008030:Lightning; D008297:Male; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial