PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar MD AU - Stephane Massé, PEng MASc AU - Karthikeyan Umapathy, PhD AU - Paul Dorian MD AU - Elias Sevaptsidis AU - Menashe Waxman MD TI - Cardiac stimulation with high voltage discharge from stun guns AID - 10.1503/cmaj.071867 DP - 2008 May 20 TA - Canadian Medical Association Journal PG - 1451--1457 VI - 178 IP - 11 4099 - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/178/11/1451.short 4100 - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/178/11/1451.full SO - CMAJ2008 May 20; 178 AB - 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.