Citation

Khartade HK, Shrivastava S, Vashisht J, Phukan A, P P, Meshram VP. J. Burn Care Res. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, American Burn Association, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1093/jbcr/irad070

PMID

37184913

Abstract

The incidences of lightning strikes are not infrequent. The electric discharge of the lightning strike produces extreme heat and high amperage current, but fatality is reported in only about 10 to 30% of lightning cases. The spectrum of injuries due to lightning strikes can vary from no external injuries to typical external injuries. Merely the presence of superficial injuries due to lightning should not be considered sufficient to dismiss the case as non-serious. Rather clinicians should be wary of internal damage due to the effect of the lightning current as well as delayed complications of the lightning which can be fatal. Similarly, during an autopsy, the forensic pathologist should also investigate for the changes/damage in the internal organs due to the effect of lightning current. The present case reports the incidence of death due to delayed complications of a lightning strike which primary doctors initially overlooked. This case also discusses the histopathological changes in the internal organs due to lightning which can be helpful in the autopsy diagnosis of lightning, particularly in cases with no external or non-specific injuries.

Language: en

Keywords

Autopsy; Forensic Pathology; Delayed complications; Histopathology; Lightening