Survival of Anesthetized Sus scrofa After Cycling (7-Second On/3-Second Off) Exposures to an Electronic Control Device for 3 Minutes

Abstract

Electronic control devices (ECDs) may eventually be deployed by the military in a manner resulting in longer exposures than those encountered during law-enforcement operations. In a previous study, 18 repeated cycling (5-second on/5-second off) exposures (within a 3-minute period) of anesthetized swine to an ECD (TASER International's Advanced TASER X26 device) resulted in leg muscle contraction, acidosis, and increases in blood electrolytes. In the current study, experiments were performed to examine effects of exposures to a different cycling rate (7-second on/3-second off), from a modified X26 ECD, on 10 swine (Sus scrofa), maintained on propofol anesthesia. In contrast with the previous study, a large number of animals (6/10) died immediately after the exposures. There were no major differences in pre-exposure blood factors from survivors versus nonsurvivors, with the exception of hematocrit and 2 isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase. It is doubtful that these factors would be useful in predicting survival after ECD exposure. Blood pH was significantly decreased after exposure, but (in animals that survived) subsequently returned to baseline levels. On the basis of the overall survival rate, further development of useful ECDs (for long-term incapacitation during military operations) may require consideration of longer pauses between repeated exposures over a 3-minute period.

Deaths in custody: Are some due to electronic control devices (including TASER® devices) or excited delirium?

“…Both respiratory and metabolic changes could contribute to acidosis. In the experiments of Jauchem et al, 4,30,33 even if respiratory effects could have been alleviated (e.g., by mechanical ventilation), it is likely that acidosis would have still been present, as reflected by the high levels of lactate. In addition, Tohdoh et al 82 reported that excessive muscle contraction, in some instances, could induce both metabolic and respiratory acidosis.…”

“…It is not known, however, whether that particular ECD can cause incapacitating muscle contractions. In the experiments of Jauchem et al, 4,30,33 blood lactate was the one factor that exhibited the greatest consistent change dependent on the relative amount of ECD exposure. Bozzuto 79 noted that physical exertion alone can result in severe hyperlactacidaemia.…”

“…Serum levels of cardiac troponin T and I (markers of cardiac muscle damage) were not significantly increased during a variety of ECD exposures of anesthetized swine. 4,30,33 In contrast, levels of cardiac troponin commonly increase (even as high as those that are characteristic of acute myocardial infarction) in runners who have, for example, just completed marathon races. 73 Any clinical significance of such an increase is unknown.…”

“…Dawes et al 64 reported that a 15-s ECD exposure did not cause core temperature elevation in resting adults. Jauchem et al 33 found no change in rectal temperature even after many repeated ECD exposures in anesthetized swine. Subjects who die after cocaine-associated excited delirium are often hyperthermic.…”

“…In experiments of extreme repeated ECD exposures, 33 respiratory arrest was the lethal endpoint in animals that did not survive. (The heart continued to exhibit organized QRS electrical activity after exposure.…”