Abstract
Objectives Data on fetal effects following accidental electric shock during pregnancy are scarce.
We report on a case of accidental maternal electric shock associated with benign fetal
arrhythmia in a woman at 28 weeks' gestation.
Study Design Case report.
Results Although electrocution involving low-voltage, low-frequency current has been associated
with fatal cardiac arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities, two protective parameters
in the present case likely reduced the fetal injury: the dry skin at the site of current
entry and the hand-to-hand pathway of current flow.
Conclusion Because the pathophysiology of electric injury is altered during pregnancy, assessment
of fetal well-being should be prompted no matter how trivial an incident may appear.
Keywords
accidental electric shock - pregnancy - fetal injury - electrocution
