Citation

Jauchem JR. Forensic Sci. Med. Pathol. 2013; 9(3): 386-394.

Affiliation

Bioeffects Division, Human Effectiveness Directorate, 711th Human Performance Wing, US Air Force Research Laboratory, 711 HPW/RHDR, 4141 Petroleum Road, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 78234, USA, james.r.jauchem.civ@mail.mil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s12024-013-9436-4

PMID

23605975

Abstract

In previous studies, blood lactate concentration (BLac) consistently increased in anesthetized animals and in human subjects after exposures to TASER(®) conducted energy weapons (CEWs). Some have suggested the increased BLac would have detrimental consequences. In the current review, the following are evaluated: (a) the nature of muscle contractions due to CEWs, (b) general aspects of increased BLac, (c) previous studies of conventional neuromuscular electrical stimulation and CEW exposures, and (d) BLac in disease states. On the basis of these analyses, one can conclude that BLac, per se (independent of acidemia), would not be clinically relevant immediately after short-duration CEW applications, due to the short time course of any increase.

Language: en