The client has experienced an electrical injury of the lower extremities. Which are the priority assessment data to obtain from this client?
A. Current range of motion in all extremities
B. Heart rate and rhythm
C. Respiratory rate and pulse oximetry reading
D. Orientation to time, place, and person
Correct Answer: B. Heart rate and rhythm.
Electric current travels through the body from the entrance site to the exit site and can seriously damage all tissues between the two sites. Early cardiac damage from electrical injury includes irregular heart rate, rhythm, and ECG changes. It is also important to obtain the patient’s cardiac history, including any history of prior arrhythmias.
Option A: Range of motion is also important. However, the priority is to make sure that the heart rate and rhythm are adequate to support perfusion to the brain and other vital organs.
Option C: The airway is not at any particular risk with this injury. Therefore, respiratory rate and pulse oximetry are not priority assessments. Any patient that was in contact with a high voltage source should have continuous cardiac monitoring during evaluation.
Option D: These patients are specifically at risk for cardiac damage if the path of the current traversed the heart. One may also consider CT imaging of the head if the patient has altered mental status or associated head trauma from a fall or being thrown in a blast.
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