@article{ref1,
title="Human electrical muscular incapacitation and effects on QTc interval",
journal="Journal of forensic sciences",
year="2017",
author="Gibbons, John A. and Mojica, Andrew J. and Peele, Mark E.",
volume="62",
number="6",
pages="1516-1521",
abstract="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.<br><br>© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-1198",
doi="10.1111/1556-4029.13490",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13490"
}