Keraunopathology. An analysis of 45 fatalities.
An analysis of 45 victims of fatal lighting strike revealed the incident occurred most frequently in the early afternoon during midsummer in a field of one form or another. The scene of death, damage to clothing, and alterations of metallic objects on the victim are described. A terminal cardiac rhythm of ventricular fibrilation was recorded in half for whom data were available, and asystole was found in 40%. All but four had cutaneous injuries, and nearly one-third had pathognomonic patterns of erythematous arborization. When examined, tympanic membranes were found to be ruptured in > 80%. This study also revealed that craniocerebral injury and cardiac contusion can be serious direct consequences of lightning strike. A correlative approach to the investigation and autopsy of lightning victims is suggested.
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Metro-Dade County Medical Examiner Department, Miami, Florida, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015168:Lightning Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology