title: Taser-induced rapid ventricular myocardial capture demonstrated by pacemaker intracardiac electrograms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A Taser weapon is designed to incapacitate violent individuals by causing temporary neuromuscular paralysis due to current application. We report the first case of a Taser application in a person with a dual-chamber pacemaker demonstrating evidence of Taser-induced myocardial capture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Device interrogation was performed in a 53-year-old man with a dual-chamber pacemaker who had received a Taser shot consisting of two barbs delivered simultaneously. Assessment of pacemaker function after Taser application demonstrated normal sensing, pacing thresholds, and lead impedances. Stored event data revealed two high ventricular rate episodes corresponding to the exact time of the Taser application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report describes the first human case of ventricular myocardial capture at a rapid rate resulting from a Taser application. This raises the issue as to whether conducted energy devices can cause primary myocardial capture or capture only in association with cardiac devices providing a preferential pathway of conduction to the myocardium.
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jerold S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shinbane
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gillberg
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Saxon
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Swerdlow
mesh_terms: D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*