Successful Treatment of a Case of Severe Electrical Burns With Heart and Lung Injuries

Abstract

A patient sustained high-voltage electrical burns with third-degree burns over 35.5% of his body surface, which included a large direct wound on the left chest wall, exposing the heart. The heart and lungs were severely injured. Subsequently, hydrothorax, hydropericardium, and respiratory failure developed. He was successfully treated with fluid resuscitation, antibiotics, drainage of the pericardium and pleural cavities, early removal of necrotic tissue, skin grafting, and reconstruction of the chest wall with a 13 x 27-cm delay-flap, as well as a number of supportive measures. The patient gradually recovered and was discharged in 6 months.

Lesión pulmonar por trauma eléctrico

“…El quinto caso se trató de un paciente de 58 años que sufrió contacto con cable de baja tensi ón sufriendo quemadura eléctrica y que desarrolló infiltrados pulmonares bilaterales complicados con hemóptisis (10) . El sexto se trató de un paciente de 22 años quien contactó con un cable de alta tensión, evolucionando con derrame pleural y zonas de atel ectasia requiriendo asistencia respiratoria mecánica y drenaje pleural (11) .…”

Lightning strike-induced acute lung injury: A case report

“…In another study, it is stated that high-voltage-dependent burns may cause pulmonary infarction by direct effect of electrical current or vascular embolism; additionally, it is stated that there is no way to prevent necrosis and microvascular thrombosis developed due to electrical injury. [17]…”

Reconstruction of a Severe Chest Electrical Burn Injury, Case Report

“…High-voltage electrical burns on the chest may cause lung infarction because of the direct effect of the electrical current and vascular embolism (Li et al, 2007), it may also adversely affect the heart conduction system, especially in older victims. Injuries to extremities usually require surgical intervention to prevent loss of the limb (Keane Law Firm, 2010).…”

“…All health professionals involved in burn care must appreciate the physiologic and pathologic effects and management of electric current injury (Edlich, 2010, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1277496-overv iew), in some cases clinical evaluation of electrical injury is difficult because of the significant discrepancy between the appearance of skin burns and the severe necrosis of the tissue beneath the skin, and its treatment is very challenging because of devastation of vast tissues and structures in this type of patient (Li et al, 2007).…”