Management of an Electrocuted Burn Injury in a District Hospital-A Case Report and Literature Review

Electrical burns are one of the important health burdens throughout the world with incidences varying between 4-18% of all burns. They comprise of several types, including lighting injury, high voltage injury (>1000V) and low voltage injury (<1000V). The severity of injury depends on the type...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Khoo Kah Seng, Leong Qi Wen, Bustaman Syamimi, Ho Choon Aik, Lim Chen Hong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2018-05-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/11505/35135_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_PF1(SH_OM)_PFA(BT_SHU)_PB(BT_SHU)_PN(AP).pdf
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Summary:Electrical burns are one of the important health burdens throughout the world with incidences varying between 4-18% of all burns. They comprise of several types, including lighting injury, high voltage injury (>1000V) and low voltage injury (<1000V). The severity of injury depends on the type and strength of current, current pathway and duration of contact. Injuries sustained from high voltage electrical current can result in cardiac arrest and death, while the other survivors may have extensive damage to soft tissues and bones along with muscle necrosis and rhabdomyolysis. Hereby, we present a case of 45-year-old man whom sustained a high voltage electrical injury (railway voltage) with 25% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) of mixed partial burns over the path of current. He was managed primarily by general surgical team in a district hospital. In this article, we discuss about management of electrocuted burns in district hospital setting without burn unit. A prompt resuscitation and monitoring of potential complications secondary to electrical burns are vital to reduce morbidity and mortality.
ISSN:2249-782X
0973-709X