TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Human electrical muscular incapacitation and effects on QTc interval
JO  - Journal of forensic sciences
A1  - Gibbons, John A.
A1  - Mojica, Andrew J.
A1  - Peele, Mark E.
SP  - 1516
EP  - 1521
VL  - 62
IS  - 6
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-1198
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13490
ID  - ref1
ER  -