After an electrical burn, which assessments should be monitored?

After an electrical burn, which assessments should be monitored?

• A. Blood pressure alone.
• B. EKG, seizures, monitor kidneys, ARDS.
• C. Visual acuity.
• D. Liver function tests.

Answer: (B)

Electrical burns can affect several organ systems, not just the skin. The current can travel through the body and cause problems in the heart, brain, kidneys, and lungs. That’s why the best monitoring plan includes an EKG to detect arrhythmias or conduction problems, observation for seizures or other CNS events, tracking kidney function and urine output because muscle injury from the burn can lead to rhabdomyolysis and kidney injury, and close watching of respiratory status to catch developing ARDS or other lung complications. Relying on blood pressure alone can miss rhythm disturbances or CNS injury, and visual acuity or liver function tests aren’t the immediate, primary concerns in the acute following an electrical burn unless specific symptoms arise.

Electrical burns can affect several organ systems, not just the skin. The current can travel through the body and cause problems in the heart, brain, kidneys, and lungs. That’s why the best monitoring plan includes an EKG to detect arrhythmias or conduction problems, observation for seizures or other CNS events, tracking kidney function and urine output because muscle injury from the burn can lead to rhabdomyolysis and kidney injury, and close watching of respiratory status to catch developing ARDS or other lung complications. Relying on blood pressure alone can miss rhythm disturbances or CNS injury, and visual acuity or liver function tests aren’t the immediate, primary concerns in the acute following an electrical burn unless specific symptoms arise.