Assessment of electrocardiographic parameters in patients with electrocution injury

BackgroundElectrocution injury (EI) is a major problem in developing countries. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of EI on electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters.MethodsA total of 43 patients hospitalized with diagnosis of EI were prospectively enrolled. Admission ECGs were compared with follow-up ECGs obtained one month after the event.ResultsMaximum P wave duration (Pmax), minimum P wave duration (Pmin), P wave dispersion (PWD), PR interval, QRS complex duration, corrected QT duration (QTc), QT dispersion (QTD), T peak to T end (Tp-e) interval were longer and Tp-e interval/QT and Tp-e interval/QTc ratios were higher on admission ECGs compared to follow-up ECGs. Frontal QRS-T angle and frequency of patients with fragmented QRS were also higher on admission ECGs.ConclusionOur study revealed that EI causes significant deterioration of admission ECG parameters. The clinical use of these parameters in prediction of arrhythmias after EI warrants further studies.