Open Access 01-12-2018 | Case report
Reversible dilative cardiomyopathy after electrical injury: a case report
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2018
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Background
Dilative cardiomyopathy is an uncommon cardiac complication of electric shock.
Case presentation
We report a case of a 12-year-old German boy with a high voltage injury who developed a four-chamber dilative cardiomyopathy, which was diagnosed on the 13th week postburn. One year after the accident, echocardiography showed a normal function of his heart with 64% ejection fraction and normal cavities’ dimensions.
Conclusions
Despite the fact that dilative cardiomyopathy is not very common in electrical injuries but can be fatal, a prolonged echocardiography follow-up for patients with electrical injury could be recommended. Until now this case is the first child with severe burns after electrocution, who developed a reversible dilative cardiomyopathy.