CMAJ • May 20, 2008; 178 (11). First published May 1, 2008; doi:10.1503/cmaj.071867
© 2008 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors
All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association.
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Résumé
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
cmaj.071867v1
cmaj.071867v2
178/11/1451    most recent
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Nanthakumar, K.
Right arrow Articles by Waxman, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Nanthakumar, K., MD
Right arrow Articles by Waxman, M., MD
Related Collections
Right arrow Other cardiovascular medicine
Right arrow Other public health
Right arrowRelated Articles

Mechanisms and innovations

Cardiac stimulation with high voltage discharge from stun guns

Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar, MD, Stephane Massé, PEng MASc, Karthikeyan Umapathy, PhD, Paul Dorian, MD, Elias Sevaptsidis and Menashe Waxman, MD

From the University of Toronto (Nanthakumar, Massé, Umapathy, Dorian, Sevaptsidis, Waxman); the Division of Cardiology, Toronto General Hospital (Nanthakumar, Massé, Umapathy, Sevaptsidis, Waxman); and St. Michael's Hospital (Dorian), Toronto, Ont.

Correspondence to: Dr. Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar, Division of Cardiology, Toronto General Hospital, GW 3-522, 150 Gerrard St. W, Toronto ON M5G 2C4

The ability of an electrical discharge to stimulate the heart depends on the duration of the pulse, the voltage and the current density that reaches the heart. Stun guns deliver very short electrical pulses with minimal amount of current at high voltages. We discuss external stimulation of the heart by high voltage discharges and review studies that have evaluated the potential of stun guns to stimulate cardiac muscle. Despite theoretical analyses and animal studies which suggest that stun guns cannot and do not affect the heart, 3 independent investigators have shown cardiac stimulation by stun guns. Additional research studies involving people are needed to resolve the conflicting theoretical and experimental findings and to aid in the design of stun guns that are unable to stimulate the heart.


Related Articles

Highlights of this issue
Can. Med. Assoc. J. 2008 178: 1393. [Full Text] [PDF]

Dans ce numéro
Can. Med. Assoc. J. 2008 178: 1393. [Full Text] [PDF]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 CMAJHome page
E. T. Bui, M. Sourkes, and R. Wennberg
Generalized tonic-clonic seizure after a taser shot to the head
Can. Med. Assoc. J., March 17, 2009; 180(6): 625 - 626.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CMAJHome page
M. W. Kroll PhD, H. Calkins MD, R. M. Luceri MD, M. A. Graham MD, and W. G. Heegaard MD MPH
TASER safety
Can. Med. Assoc. J., September 23, 2008; 179(7): 677 - 678.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CMAJHome page
M. B. Stanbrook MD PhD
Tasers in medicine: an irreverent call for proposals
Can. Med. Assoc. J., May 20, 2008; 178(11): 1401 - 1402.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CMAJHome page
M. B. Stanbrook MD PhD
Les tasers en medecine : une demande de propositions irreverencieuse
Can. Med. Assoc. J., May 20, 2008; 178(11): 1403 - 1404.
[Full Text] [PDF]

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

TASER Electronic Control Devices: Review of a Review
Mark W. Kroll
CMAJ, 2 Jul 2008 [Full text]