title: Cardiovascular effects of SPARK conducted electrical weapon in healthy subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing use of conducted electronic weapons (CEW) cause concern regarding its secure application, specially regarding the implications in the cardiovascular system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective was to determine Spark CEW safety through cardiovascular parameters analysis of healthy volunteers subjected to its use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Volunteers over 18years without cardiovascular disease or recent use of illegal drugs were submitted, before and after being affected with Spark CEW, to clinical evaluation; blood collection for serum laboratory tests; transthoracic electrocardiography at rest, transthoracic echodopplercardiogram and 24hour Holter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 71 patients reported being incapable of any voluntary reaction during the shock of the application time. No arrhythmia or myocardial necrosis was related to the use of non-lethal weapon SPARK. Reported adverse events were self-limited, and mostly mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SPARK brand CEW is effective in incapacitating individuals by the shock of the application time, without causing.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Procoração, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Brazil. Electronic address: scherr@all.com.br.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scherr
authors.affiliation: Fundação Procoração, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Juaçaba
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Belem
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Henrique
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Loyola
authors.affiliation: Fundação Procoração, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Leborato
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Fundação Procoração, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Fundação Procoração, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mangia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057667:Conducted Energy Weapon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D054041:Weapons; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arrythmia; Blood pressure; Conducted electronic weapons; Myocardium; Prevention; Safety