Correspondence

Ventricular Fibrillation after Stun-Gun Discharge

N Engl J Med 2005; 353:958-959September 1, 2005

Article

To the Editor:

The question of the safety of the use of “stun guns” by law-enforcement agencies has been raised in the news.1 Deaths after discharges from such devices (Tasers) have been reported, although no definite causative link between death and the use of a stun gun has been made.2,3

An adolescent was subdued with a Taser stun gun and subsequently collapsed. Paramedics found the adolescent to be in ventricular fibrillation (Figure 1AFigure 1Electrocardiogram after Discharge from a Stun Gun.) and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation within two minutes after the collapse. After four shocks and the administration of epinephrine, atropine, and lidocaine, a perfusing rhythm was restored (Figure 1B). The adolescent made a nearly complete recovery and was discharged from the hospital several days later. This case of ventricular fibrillation after a discharge from a stun gun suggests that the availability of automated external defibrillators to law-enforcement personnel4 carrying stun guns should be considered.

Paul J. Kim, M.D.
Wayne H. Franklin, M.D.
Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614
wfranklin@childrensmemorial.org

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