Lightning injury in a desert

摘要

Thunderstorms and lightning are uncommon in the Arabian Gulf. Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere or between atmosphere and ground. Most frequently fatalities after the lightning injury are due to direct lightning strike and cardiorespiratory arrest. It is essential that acute care physicians as well as paramedical personnel are aware of lightning injury and its management. This is a case of a field worker who was struck by lightning while working, which led to a cardiorespiratory arrest. A young male was brought to the emergency room with a history of having been struck by lightning while he was at work in the desert on a roadside project in a thunderstorm. The lightning injury was witnessed by his colleagues and they started immediate basic life support when they found him unconscious without a pulse. He was intubated, ventilated and started on vasopressors in the nearest primary health centre. He was then transferred to an intensive care unit. He was weaned off vasopressors and ventilation by day four and was extubated then transferred to the ward and subsequently discharged home. Awareness of the danger posed by lightning injury is essential. Early life support is important for better outcome of lightning induced cardiorespiratory arrest.