Electronic control device exposure: a review of morbidity and mortality.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_F345DCB538DA
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Review (review): journal as complete as possible of one specific subject, written based on exhaustive analyses from published work.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Electronic control device exposure: a review of morbidity and mortality.
Journal
Annals of Emergency Medicine
Author(s)
Pasquier M., Carron P.N., Vallotton L., Yersin B.
ISSN
1097-6760 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0196-0644
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2011
Volume
58
Number
2
Pages
178-188
Language
english
Abstract
The use of electronic control devices has expanded worldwide during the last few years, the most widely used model being the Taser. However, the scientific knowledge about electronic control devices remains limited. We reviewed the medical literature to examine the potential implications of electronic devices in terms of morbidity and mortality, and to identify and evaluate all the existing experimental human studies. A single exposure of an electronic control device on healthy individuals can be assumed to be generally safe, according to 23 prospective human experimental studies and numerous volunteer exposures. In case series, however, electronic control devices could have deleterious effects when used in the field, in particular if persons receive multiple exposures, are intoxicated, show signs of "excited delirium," or present with medical comorbidities. As the use of electronic control devices continues to increase, the controversy about its safety, notably in potentially high-risk individuals, is still a matter of debate. The complications of electronic control device exposure are numerous but often recognizable, usually resulting from barbed dart injuries or from falls. Persons exposed to electronic control devices should therefore be fully examined, and traumatic lesions must be ruled out.
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
08/09/2011 20:30
Last modification date
10/06/2022 6:37
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