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ARTICLE |

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION DUE TO ACCIDENTAL ELECTRIC SHOCK FREE

William H. Wehrmacher, M.D.
[+] Author Affiliations

Chicago

From the Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School.


JAMA. 1957;165(4):349-351. doi:10.1001/jama.1957.72980220006009c
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Of the several causes of atrial fibrillation in man, electric shock has received only scant attention. A few previous case reports demonstrate that the arrhythmia may result from accidental shock1 or as a complication of electric convulsive-shock therapy,2 Patients so afflicted are naturally concerned about what the anticipated course of the illness may be. Physicians require knowledge of how it develops and how it can be treated. Those concerned with the adjudication of claims arising from such injuries need information about the prognosis. The following case demonstrates how electric shock may produce atrial fibrillation and that excellent functional recovery can follow such an accident.

Report of a Case  The patient, a 52-year-old lineman, on Sept. 2, 1954, was working astride a pole which supported high-tension electric wires. As he worked, he inadvertently assumed a position whereby his left posterior thorax, wet with sweat and covered by only a

REFERENCES

(a) Gossels, C. L.:  Auricular Fibrillation Caused by Electric Accident (Effects of Electric Current on Human Body) , Exper. Med. & Surg. 7:335-344 ( (Nov.) ) 1949;.
Laslett, E. E.:  Paroxysm of Auricular Fibrillation Caused by Electric Shock , Brit. M. J. 1:919 ( (May 21) ) 1927;.
Godtfredsen, E.:  Cataracta Electrica and Electrocardiographic Changes After Electric Shock , Acta Ophth. 20:69, 1942;.
Benthaus, J., and Hundt, H. J.:  Herzschäden und vegetative Störungen nach elektrischen Unfall , Ztschr. ges. inn. Med. 9:847-853 ( (Sept. 1) ) 1954;.
Hay, J., and Jones, H. W.:  Trauma as Cause of Auricular Fibrillation: Its Medico-legal Significance , Brit. M. J. 1:559-562 ( (March 26) ) 1927;.
Levokove, E., and Morris, M. H.:  Auricular Fibrillation After Electric Shock with Complete Recovery, Case Report , New York J. Med. 54:807-808 ( (March 15) ) 1954;.
Hickl, W.:  Ueber Vorhofflimmern nach Starkstromverletzung , München. med. Wchnschr. 79:1277-1278 ( (Aug. 5) ) 1932;.
Sigler, L. H., and Schneider, J. J.:  Electrocardiographic Changes in Case of Electric Shock , Am. Heart J. 11:236-238 ( (Feb.) ) 1936;.
Altschule, M. D.; Sulzbach, W. M.; and Tillotson, K. J.:  Significance of Changes in Electrocardiogram After Electrically Induced Convulsions in Man , Arch. Neurol. & Psychiat. 58:716-720 ( (Dec.) ) 1947;.
Craddock, W. L., and Gilbert, H. P.:  Transient Auricular Fibrillation Complicating Electric Shock Therapy, Case Report , Am. J. Psychiat. 104:744-745 ( (May) ) 1948;.
O'Flanagan, P. M., and Taylor, R. B.:  Auricular Fibrillation After Electric Convulsion Therapy , Brit. M. J. 2:444-445 ( (Aug. 19) ) 1950;.
Abilgaard, C. P.:  Tentamina electrica in animalibus instituta, Societas medica Havniensis , Collectanea 2:157, 1775;
Ferris, L. P., and others,  Effect of Electric Shock on Heart , Elec. Engineering 55:498 ( (May) ) 1936;.
Ferris, L. P.; King, B. G.; Spence, P. W.; and Williams, H. B.:  Effect of Electric Shock on Heart , Elec. Engineering 55:498 ( (May) ) 1936;.
Winterberg, H.:  Studien über Herzflimmern. I. Mitteilung. Über die Wirkung des Nervus vagus und accelerans auf das Flimmern des Herzens , Arch. f. d. ges. Physiol. 117:223-256 ( (May) ) 1907;.
Andrus, E. C.; Carter, E. P.; and Wheeler, H. A.:  Refractory Period of Normally-Beating Dog's Auricle: With Note on Occurrence of Auricular Fibrillation Following Single Stimulus , J. Exper. Med. 51:357-367 ( (March) ) 1930;.

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(a) Gossels, C. L.:  Auricular Fibrillation Caused by Electric Accident (Effects of Electric Current on Human Body) , Exper. Med. & Surg. 7:335-344 ( (Nov.) ) 1949;.
Laslett, E. E.:  Paroxysm of Auricular Fibrillation Caused by Electric Shock , Brit. M. J. 1:919 ( (May 21) ) 1927;.
Godtfredsen, E.:  Cataracta Electrica and Electrocardiographic Changes After Electric Shock , Acta Ophth. 20:69, 1942;.
Benthaus, J., and Hundt, H. J.:  Herzschäden und vegetative Störungen nach elektrischen Unfall , Ztschr. ges. inn. Med. 9:847-853 ( (Sept. 1) ) 1954;.
Hay, J., and Jones, H. W.:  Trauma as Cause of Auricular Fibrillation: Its Medico-legal Significance , Brit. M. J. 1:559-562 ( (March 26) ) 1927;.
Levokove, E., and Morris, M. H.:  Auricular Fibrillation After Electric Shock with Complete Recovery, Case Report , New York J. Med. 54:807-808 ( (March 15) ) 1954;.
Hickl, W.:  Ueber Vorhofflimmern nach Starkstromverletzung , München. med. Wchnschr. 79:1277-1278 ( (Aug. 5) ) 1932;.
Sigler, L. H., and Schneider, J. J.:  Electrocardiographic Changes in Case of Electric Shock , Am. Heart J. 11:236-238 ( (Feb.) ) 1936;.
Altschule, M. D.; Sulzbach, W. M.; and Tillotson, K. J.:  Significance of Changes in Electrocardiogram After Electrically Induced Convulsions in Man , Arch. Neurol. & Psychiat. 58:716-720 ( (Dec.) ) 1947;.
Craddock, W. L., and Gilbert, H. P.:  Transient Auricular Fibrillation Complicating Electric Shock Therapy, Case Report , Am. J. Psychiat. 104:744-745 ( (May) ) 1948;.
O'Flanagan, P. M., and Taylor, R. B.:  Auricular Fibrillation After Electric Convulsion Therapy , Brit. M. J. 2:444-445 ( (Aug. 19) ) 1950;.
Abilgaard, C. P.:  Tentamina electrica in animalibus instituta, Societas medica Havniensis , Collectanea 2:157, 1775;
Ferris, L. P., and others,  Effect of Electric Shock on Heart , Elec. Engineering 55:498 ( (May) ) 1936;.
Ferris, L. P.; King, B. G.; Spence, P. W.; and Williams, H. B.:  Effect of Electric Shock on Heart , Elec. Engineering 55:498 ( (May) ) 1936;.
Winterberg, H.:  Studien über Herzflimmern. I. Mitteilung. Über die Wirkung des Nervus vagus und accelerans auf das Flimmern des Herzens , Arch. f. d. ges. Physiol. 117:223-256 ( (May) ) 1907;.
Andrus, E. C.; Carter, E. P.; and Wheeler, H. A.:  Refractory Period of Normally-Beating Dog's Auricle: With Note on Occurrence of Auricular Fibrillation Following Single Stimulus , J. Exper. Med. 51:357-367 ( (March) ) 1930;.
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