Lightning Injury: Two Case Histories and a Review of Management

Abstract

Two cases of fatal lightning injury are described. Fixed dilated pupils should not be taken as an indicator of death after a lightning strike. Persons who fail to breath spontaneously within one minute of lightning shock should receive external cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Paralysis may persist as result of cerebral oedema or prolonged hypoxia—it is therefore suggested that adequate ventilation and metabolic balance should be maintained until recovery or death. © 1973, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.