Anästhesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther 2018; 53(S 01): S10
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1675494
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Lightning accidents in the Austrian Alps – A 10-year retrospective nationwide analysis

M Ströhle
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anischstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
,
B Wallner
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anischstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
,
M Lanthaler
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anischstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
,
S Rauch
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anischstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
,
H Brugger
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anischstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
,
P Paal
1   Department of General and Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anischstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 November 2018 (online)

Also available at
 

Background:

Lightning strikes are rare but potentially lethal. The risk for suffering a lightning strike in a mountain environment is unknown. The aim of this nationwide study was to analyse all lightning accidents in the Austrian Alps from 2005 – 2015, to assess the circumstances of the accident, the injury pattern as well as the outcome.

Methods:

From 2005 – 2015, data from the national Austrian Alpine Police database as well as the Clinical Information System of Innsbruck Medical University Hospital were searched for the keywords lightning injury, lightning strike, lightning as well as ICD-10 Code T75.0. Additionally, the archive data of Innsbruck Medical University Hospital was searched manually.

Results:

The Austrian Alpine Police database, containing 109.168 patients for the years 2005 – 2015, was screened for lightning accidents. Sixty-four patients had been hit by lightning in the Austrian Alps, 54 were male. Four persons died on scene; survival rate was 93.8%. Two deceased persons were hunters, who were killed by the same lightning strike. Sixty-three patients suffered a lightning strike while doing a recreational activity, mostly hiking (n = 55), a few hunting and only one doing occupational timberwork. Sixty-three patients suffered a lightning strike between June and August with nearly half (46.9%) of the accidents happening on a Saturday or Sunday, and mainly (95.3%) between 12:00 and 22:00h.

Conclusions:

Persons who perform recreational outdoor and occupational activities in an alpine environment during summer and after noon incur a higher risk of sustaining a lightning strike. The primary risk group includes young male mountaineers and hunters. The mortality rate was low.

Tab. 1:

Injury suffered when hit by lightning Mild injuries included closed fractures, open wounds without hemodynamically relevant bleeding, arrhythmia or paraesthesia. Severe injuries included traumatic brain injury, open fractures and impairment of the cardiovascular system up to the extent of cardiac arrest.

Pattern of injury

uninjured

mildly injured

severly injured

dead

unknown

Acute stress reaction

3

6

Cardiovascular disorder

13

2

3

Cardiovascular disorder and TBI

1

Cardiovascular disorder, TBI, open wound head

1

Burn injury, whole body

1

Burn injury, shoulder

3

Burn injury, upper arm

1

Burn injury, forearm

1

Burn injury, foot

2

Burn injury ankle joint, multiple lacerations lower leg

1

Injury not further specified, forearm

4

Injury not further specified, hand

1

Open wound, head

2

Open wound, lower Ieg (due to crampon)

1

Fracture, shoulder

1

Fracture, lower leg

1

Paresthesia lower arm, vertigo

1

Paresthesia not further defined

1

Unknown injury pattern, not further specified by emergency service on scene

4

6

1

1

2

7

44

7

4

2