Electrical injuries in the Principality of Asturias

Section: Originals

How to quote

González Calvo C. Traumatismos eléctricos en el Principado de Asturias. Metas Enferm jul/ago 2017; 20(6): 50-54.

Authors

Carlos González Calvo

Position

Enfermero. Máster en Urgencias y Cuidados Críticos de la Universidad de Oviedo. Servicio de Hemodiálisis.Hospital Fundación Jove. Gijón (Asturias)

Contact address

Carlos González Calvo. C/ Fernando Morán, 6-7º A. 33401 Avilés (Asturias).

Contact email: calvo14_3@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective: to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients who suffered electrical injuries (EIs) in the Principality of Asturias during the period from 2003 to 2015.
Method: a descriptive longitudinal study of patients with electrical injuries admitted at the Plastic Surgery Unit and the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA) within the period between the years 2003 to 2015. There was a review of clinical records, according to ICD-9 diagnosis codes: Primary: 940.0-949.5 (burns) and Secondary: 925 (accident caused by electric current). Sociodemographic, occupational and clinical variables were collected, as well as those associated with EIs. A descriptive analysis was conducted with the SPPS statistical program, version 22.0.
Results: of the total admissions due to burns, 2.67% were caused by EIs; 51.2% of cases were caused by high voltage (>1,000 volts). Of these patients, 86% were male; their mean age (standard deviation: SD) was 34 (20) years, with a mean hospital stay (SD) of 20 (19) days. A 51% of these patients required admission at the ICU, and 63% of them underwent a surgical procedure. The occupation with the highest proportion of EIs was electrician (30%).
Conclusions: there was a low proportion of electrical injuries vs. the total admissions due to burns, and this was mostly associated with the patients’ occupation. There was only one death, but complications and consequences were severe. More than half of the patients required a surgical intervention.

Keywords:

Electrical burns; electrical injuries; electric trauma; Emergency Units; intensive care unit

Versión en Español

Título:

Traumatismos eléctricos en el Principado de Asturias