Termination of electrocution-induced ventricular fibrillation by an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. 2010

Mahazarin Ginwalla, and Smitha Battula, and Jonathan Dunn, and William R Lewis
Department of Cardiology, Metrohealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. kuehnem@uhbs.ch

We describe a case in which an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) saved a patient's life after he tried to commit suicide by electrocuting himself. Deaths caused by electrocution are usually accidental and rarely suicidal. The amount of current flow is the most important factor in deciding the degree of electrical injury, which may range from transient muscle tremors to death. The ICD is electrically insulated from surrounding electromagnetic interference and the passage of electric current typically does not damage or reprogram the device. In our patient, electromagnetic interference caused by the electric current initially triggered the noise reversion mode, leading to asynchronous pacing. Ventricular fibrillation was detected and terminated only after the electromagnetic interference stopped, as depicted by the intracardiac electrogram. This case is the first documented example of an ICD-aborted fatal electrocution from ventricular fibrillation caused by an unnatural electrical source. (PACE 2010; 510-512).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D003865 Depressive Disorder, Major Disorder in which five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure. Symptoms include: depressed mood most of the day, nearly every daily; markedly diminished interest or pleasure in activities most of the day, nearly every day; significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain; Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day; psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day; fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day; feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt; diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day; or recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt. (DSM-5) Depression, Involutional,Major Depressive Disorder,Melancholia, Involutional,Paraphrenia, Involutional,Psychosis, Involutional,Depressive Disorders, Major,Involutional Depression,Involutional Melancholia,Involutional Paraphrenia,Involutional Paraphrenias,Involutional Psychoses,Involutional Psychosis,Major Depressive Disorders,Paraphrenias, Involutional,Psychoses, Involutional
D004556 Electric Injuries Injuries caused by electric currents. The concept excludes electric burns (BURNS, ELECTRIC), but includes accidental electrocution and electric shock. Electrocution, Accidental,Injuries, Electric,Accidental Electrocution,Accidental Electrocutions,Electric Injury,Electrocutions, Accidental,Injury, Electric
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013406 Suicide, Attempted The unsuccessful attempt to kill oneself. Parasuicide,Suicide Attempt,Attempt, Suicide,Attempted Suicide,Parasuicides
D014693 Ventricular Fibrillation A potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmia that is characterized by uncoordinated extremely rapid firing of electrical impulses (400-600/min) in HEART VENTRICLES. Such asynchronous ventricular quivering or fibrillation prevents any effective cardiac output and results in unconsciousness (SYNCOPE). It is one of the major electrocardiographic patterns seen with CARDIAC ARREST. Fibrillation, Ventricular,Fibrillations, Ventricular,Ventricular Fibrillations
D017147 Defibrillators, Implantable Implantable devices which continuously monitor the electrical activity of the heart and automatically detect and terminate ventricular tachycardia (TACHYCARDIA, VENTRICULAR) and VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION. They consist of an impulse generator, batteries, and electrodes. Cardioverter-Defibrillators, Implantable,Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator,Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators,Implantable Defibrillators,Cardioverter Defibrillator, Implantable,Cardioverter Defibrillators, Implantable,Cardioverter-Defibrillator, Implantable,Defibrillator, Implantable,Defibrillator, Implantable Cardioverter,Defibrillators, Implantable Cardioverter,Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators,Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator,Implantable Defibrillator

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