Human Electrical Muscular Incapacitation and Effects on QTc Interval

• Autores: John A Gibbons, Andrew J Mojica, Mark E Peele
• Localización: Journal of forensic sciences, ISSN-e 1556-4029, ISSN 0022-1198, Vol. 62, Nº. 6, 2017, págs. 1516-1521
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Human Electrical Muscular Incapacitation (HEMI) is used to subdue combative individuals. Changes in cardiac electrical activity have been proposed as the cause of death in a small fraction of these individuals. The current study sought to determine whether changes in QTc interval occur after HEMI exposure. Twenty-four participants had EKG readings before a 5-second HEMI exposure and within 30 min after exposure. All subject EKGs were read by a data-blinded cardiac electrophysiologist who calculated a QT corrected (QTc) interval.

    QTc interval was calculated using Bazett method. QTc prolongation was defined as >430 ms and a threshold of 30 ms for identifying QTc lengthening. Five participants experienced QTc prolongation and six had QTc lengthening. One participant developed QTc prolongation exceeding 500 ms, which carries a risk of developing multifocal ventricular tachycardia. These results suggest that HEMI exposure may cause EKG changes with a risk of ventricular tachycardia.