Electric injury, part III: Cardiac monitoring indications, the pregnant patient, and lightning

A number of publications have presented recommendations for prolonged cardi ac monitoring after electric injury. These recommendations are combined in this article to make criteria for monitoring that agree with the recommenda tions of most studies. It is generally agreed that cardiac monitoring is no t needed unless there is an abnormal electrocardiogram or other suggestion of acute problems. Electric injury in pregnancy is also discussed, with rec ommendations for fetal monitoring after electric and mechanical trauma. Rep orts of fetal death after minor electric injury to the mother are described . Finally, selected aspects of lightning injury are described, including ne urologic and vascular effects. This is the final article of a 3-part series on electric injury. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.