Factors affecting the clinical outcome of low-voltage electrical injuries in children


Gokdemir M. T., KAYA H., SÖĞÜT Ö., Cevik M.

Pediatric Emergency Care, cilt.29, sa.3, ss.357-359, 2013 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 29 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2013
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1097/pec.0b013e3182854445
  • Dergi Adı: Pediatric Emergency Care
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.357-359
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: electrical shock, low-voltage, home accident
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the clinical features of low-voltage (220-240 V) electrical injuries and their mortality in children.METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated 36 patients younger than 18 years who suffered a low-voltage electrical shock and presented to the emergency department between January 2009 and October 2011.For statistical analysis, Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables, and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables.RESULTS: In the 34-month period, 36 patients (27 boys [75%] and 9 girls [25%]) were injured.The mean patient age was 9.19 ± 4.10 years (range, 2-17 years).Of the 36 patients, 5 (13.9%) died.Significant relationships were found between mortality and age (P =0.004), unconscious at the time of admission to the emergency department (P =0.013), the presence of clinical shock (P =0.005), sinus tachycardia (P =0.003), and high lactate dehydrogenase levels (P =0.001).There were also significant relationships between mortality and hospital stay (P =0.005), intensive care unit stay (P =0.002), and detection of bacterial growth in blood culture (P =0.024).By contrast, sex, the presence of an electrical exit wound, degree of the burn, surface area of the burn (%), accompanying flash burn, time elapsed transferring the patient from the accident scene to hospital, incomplete bundle-branch block or ST-wave changes on the electrocardiogram, increased troponin T, and creatine phosphokinase myocardial bundle did not affect mortality.CONCLUSIONS: Complications such as sepsis and electrolyte imbalance lead to mortality rather than low-voltage electrical injury itself. © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.