Two cases in which myocardial injury could be only evaluated by nuclear medicine studies on electric shock patients whose electrocardiogram and myocardial enzyme levels were normal

J Trauma. 2009 Mar;66(3):666-71. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31816493c0.

Abstract

Heart injury due to electric shock is currently diagnosed based on electrocardiogram (ECG) changes or elevated levels of myocardial enzymes or both. However, the rate at which ECG detects abnormalities is very low; thus, the estimated rate of the diagnosis of myocardial damage due to electric shock is lower than the actual rate. The method of nuclear medicine study of the heart is superior with regard to evaluating transient ischemia, such as angina pectoris, in patients whose ECG and myocardial enzyme levels are normal. Therefore, we attempted to diagnose transient myocardial damage in electric shock patients by using nuclear medicine study of the heart.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational
  • Adult
  • Creatine Kinase / blood*
  • Echocardiography
  • Electric Injuries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Electric Injuries / enzymology
  • Electrocardiography*
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart / innervation
  • Heart Injuries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Injuries / enzymology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocardial Ischemia / diagnostic imaging
  • Myocardium / enzymology*
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Reference Values
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Creatine Kinase