OBJECTIVES: The Taser (Taser International, Scottsdale, Ariz) uses high-voltage electricity to incapacitate subjects. We sought to evaluate cardiac rhythm changes during deployment of the Taser on healthy volunteers. METHODS: This prospective study was performed on 32 healthy volunteer subjects receiving a Taser X26 discharge. The subjects had baseline 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring performed immediately before and within 1 minute after the Taser discharge. Changes in cardiac rhythm, morphology, and interval duration were evaluated. Descriptive statistics and paired-sample t test comparisons are reported. RESULTS: All 32 subjects had an interpretable 12-lead ECG obtained before and after the Taser activation, although 1 subject's post-PR interval could not be determined. The mean age and body mass index were 33 years and 26.5 kg/m2, respectively. Overall, there was a significant increase in heart rate (2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0-4.9) and a decrease in PR interval (-6.5; 95% CI, -9.7 to -3.3). When stratified by sex, only the PR interval in men significantly decreased (-5.9; 95% CI, -9.2 to -2.5). There were significant changes in heart rate (4.0; 95% CI, 1.3-6.7), PR interval (-6.0; 95% CI, -11.3 to -0.7), and QT interval (-18.8; 95% CI, -33.2 to -4.3) among those with a normal body mass index, and in PR interval among those who were overweight/obese (-6.7; 95% CI, -10.8 to -2.5). None of the statistically significant differences between ECG measures were clinically relevant. CONCLUSIONS: There were no cardiac dysrhythmia and interval or morphology changes in subjects who received a Taser discharge based on a 12-lead ECG performed immediately before and within 1 minute after a Taser activation.
OBJECTIVES: The Taser (Taser International, Scottsdale, Ariz) uses high-voltage electricity to incapacitate subjects. We sought to evaluate cardiac rhythm changes during deployment of the Taser on healthy volunteers. METHODS: This prospective study was performed on 32 healthy volunteer subjects receiving a Taser X26 discharge. The subjects had baseline 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring performed immediately before and within 1 minute after the Taser discharge. Changes in cardiac rhythm, morphology, and interval duration were evaluated. Descriptive statistics and paired-sample t test comparisons are reported. RESULTS: All 32 subjects had an interpretable 12-lead ECG obtained before and after the Taser activation, although 1 subject's post-PR interval could not be determined. The mean age and body mass index were 33 years and 26.5 kg/m2, respectively. Overall, there was a significant increase in heart rate (2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0-4.9) and a decrease in PR interval (-6.5; 95% CI, -9.7 to -3.3). When stratified by sex, only the PR interval in men significantly decreased (-5.9; 95% CI, -9.2 to -2.5). There were significant changes in heart rate (4.0; 95% CI, 1.3-6.7), PR interval (-6.0; 95% CI, -11.3 to -0.7), and QT interval (-18.8; 95% CI, -33.2 to -4.3) among those with a normal body mass index, and in PR interval among those who were overweight/obese (-6.7; 95% CI, -10.8 to -2.5). None of the statistically significant differences between ECG measures were clinically relevant. CONCLUSIONS: There were no cardiac dysrhythmia and interval or morphology changes in subjects who received a Taser discharge based on a 12-lead ECG performed immediately before and within 1 minute after a Taser activation.
Authors: Mark W Kroll; Stacey L Hail; Ryan M Kroll; Charles V Wetli; John C Criscione Journal: Forensic Sci Med Pathol Date: 2018-08-11 Impact factor: 2.007
Authors: Kirsten M Vanmeenen; Marc H Lavietes; Neil S Cherniack; Michael T Bergen; Ronald Teichman; Richard J Servatius Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2013-04-18 Impact factor: 4.566