Physiological effects of a conducted electrical weapon on human subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Sudden death after a conducted electrical weapon exposure has not been well studied. We examine the effects of a single Taser exposure on markers of physiologic stress in healthy humans.


METHODS
This is a prospective trial investigating the effects of a single Taser exposure. As part of their police training, 32 healthy law enforcement officers received a 5-second Taser electrical discharge. Measures before and for 60 minutes after an exposure included minute ventilation; tidal volume; respiratory rate (RR); end-tidal PCO2; oxygen saturation, pulse rate; blood pressure (systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure); arterialized blood for pH, PO2, PCO2, and lactate; and venous blood for bicarbonate and electrolytes. Troponin I was measured at 6 hours. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures ANOVA and paired t tests.


RESULTS
At 1 minute postexposure, minute ventilation increased from a mean of 16 to 29 L/minute, tidal volume increased from 0.9 to 1.4 L, and RR increased from 19 to 23 breaths/min, all returning to baseline at 10 min. Pulse rate of 102 beats/min and systolic blood pressure of 139 mm Hg were higher before Taser exposure than at anytime afterward. Blood lactate increased from 1.4 mmol/L at baseline to 2.8 mmol/L at 1 minute, returning to baseline at 30 minutes. pH And bicarbonate decreased, respectively, by 0.03 and 1.2 mEq/L at 1 minute, returning to baseline at 30 minutes. All troponin I values were normal and there were no EKG changes. Ventilation was not interrupted, and there was no hypoxemia or hypercarbia.


CONCLUSIONS
A 5-second exposure of a Taser X26 to healthy law enforcement personnel does not result in clinically significant changes of physiologic stress.
Vilke
Gary M
GM
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. gmvilke@ucsd.edu
Sloane
Christian M
CM
Bouton
Katie D
KD
Kolkhorst
Fred W
FW
Levine
Saul D
SD
Neuman
Tom S
TS
Castillo
Edward M
EM
Chan
Theodore C
TC
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration
D004573:Electrolytes