title: Nature and determinants of skin "burns" after transthoracic cardioversion.
abstract: Skin biopsies obtained 24 hours after elective cardioversion of 30 patients showed variable epidermal necrosis and upper dermal perivascular inflammation, most noticeably in patients receiving high individual peak (> or = 300 J) and cumulative (> or = 350 J) shock energies. Thus, damped sine wave shocks cause skin injury--first degree burns--the severity of which is a function of peak and cumulative shock energy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City 52242, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pagan-Carlo
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Kerber
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes / Q000009:adverse effects; D004817:Epidermis / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology