title: Serum troponin I measurement of subjects exposed to the Taser X-26.
abstract: The Taser is a high-voltage, low-amperage conducted energy device used by many law enforcement agencies as a less lethal force weapon. The objective of this study was to evaluate for a rise in serum troponin I level after deployment of the Taser on law enforcement training volunteers. A prospective, observational cohort study was performed evaluating serum troponin I levels in human subjects 6 h after an exposure to the Taser X-26. Outcome measures included abnormal elevation in serum troponin I level (> 0.2 ng/mL). There were 66 subjects evaluated. The mean shock duration was 4.36 s (range 1.2-5 s). None of the subjects had a positive troponin I level 6 h after exposure. It was concluded that human volunteers exposed to a single shock from the Taser did not develop an abnormal serum troponin I level 6 h after shock, suggesting that there was no myocardial necrosis or infarction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, California 92103-8676, USA.
authors.forename: Christian M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sloane
authors.forename: Theodore C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Saul D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: James V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Dunford
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neuman
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Vilke
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D016495:Police; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*; D054041:Weapons
chemical_list: D019210:Troponin I