An unusual otolaryngologic manifestation of lightning strike

Abstract

Estimates reveal there are approximately 50,000 thunderstorms and 8 million lightning flashes daily worldwide. In the United States, lightning strikes are responsible for 300 to 600 deaths annually, with thousands more people injured.' Otolaryngologists are often involved in caring for lightning strike survivors.Numerous articles have addressed the otologic manifestations of lightning strike, including burns to the auricle and external auditory canal, tympanic membrane rupture, middle ear injury, and sensorineural hearing loss. An article from our institution also reported temporal bone findings on autopsy after lightning strike.' Youngs et aL3 reported similar postmortem results. A recent article reported an unusual otolaryngologic manifestation of transient dysphagia after lightning trike.^ We report a case of lightning strike in which, in addition to the expected otologic manifestations, the patient also exhibited prolonged dysphagia. Characteristics of lightning strike with associated audiologic, otologic, and swallowing findings are reviewed and patient evaluation, treatment, and outcome are discussed. CASE REPORTL.M. is a previously healthy 64-year-old woman from Florida who was struck by lightning while horseback riding with friends in the mountains near Vail, Colorado. The lightning bolt reportedly struck the paFrom the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Colorado University Health Sciences Center.

Fast Vision of Two Electrospinning Technique: History, Fundamentals and Applications

“…Lightening figure is a fractal positive electrical discharge reported in 30% of cases [16]. Using the above formula to calculate the resistance (2x10 3 -5x10 3 Ω) developed by human against lightning, current (10 4 -2x10 7 A) and voltage (2x10 7 -1x10 9 V) [7] denotes that there is need for high resistance against the effects of lightning current and voltage [19], since lightning had caused 45 fatalities and unusual otolaryngitis [20,21]. But the lethality depends on frequencies of thunderstorm sounds and energies [22].…”