RESUMO
Two patients with high voltage electrical injury involving the trunk are presented. Both injuries were complicated by visceral damage; and one patient died from sepsis secondary to bowel perforation. The rarity of this complication is examined in light of the pathophysiology of electrical injury; and its management is discussed with reference to previously published reports on this condition. (AM)
Assuntos
Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Masculino , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/complicações , Traumatismos por Eletricidade/complicações , Perfuração Intestinal/etiologia , Doenças Profissionais/complicações , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/fisiopatologia , Traumatismos por Eletricidade/fisiopatologia , Perfuração Intestinal/complicaçõesRESUMO
A 24 year-old male Jamaican building worker developed cataracts four months after electrical injury from a high tension cable. His visual acuity fell to perception of hand movements at 1 metre. Extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation restored his visual acuity to 20/25 (6/7.5). Mechanisms for this unusual complication of electrical injury are discussed (AU)