Respiratory effect of prolonged electrical weapon application on human volunteers.
BACKGROUND
Conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) are used by law enforcement to subdue combative subjects. Occasionally, subjects will die after a CEW has been used on them. It is theorized that CEWs may contribute to these deaths by impairing respiration.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the respiratory effects of CEWs.


METHODS
Human volunteers received a 15-second application of electrical current from a CEW while wearing a respiratory measurement device. Common respiratory parameters were collected before, during, and after exposure. Health histories and demographic information were also collected.


RESULTS
Fifty-two subjects were analyzed. Thirty-four underwent a 15-second continuous exposure, and 18 underwent three 5-second burst exposures. In the continuous application group, the baseline mean tidal volume of 1.1 L increased to 1.8 L during application, the baseline end-tidal CO2 level went from 40.5 mm Hg to 37.3 mm Hg after exposure, the baseline end-tidal oxygen level went from 118.7 mm Hg to 121.3 mm Hg after exposure, and the baseline respiratory rate went from 15.9 breaths/min to 16.4 breaths/min after exposure. In the 5-second burst group, the baseline mean tidal volume increased to 1.85 L during application, the baseline end-tidal CO2 level went from 40.9 mm Hg to 39.1 mm Hg after exposure, the baseline end-tidal oxygen level went from 123.1 mm Hg to 127.0 mm Hg after exposure, and the baseline respiratory rate went from 13.8 breaths/min to 14.6 breaths/min after exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged CEW application did not impair respiratory parameters in this population of volunteers. Further study is recommended to validate these findings in other populations.
Ho
Jeffrey D
JD
Department of Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA. hoxxx010@umn.edu
Dawes
Donald M
DM
Bultman
Laura L
LL
Thacker
Jenny L
JL
Skinner
Lisa D
LD
Bahr
Jennifer M
JM
Johnson
Mark A
MA
Miner
James R
JR
D000328:Adult; D004597:Electroshock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006805:Human Experimentation; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors