The Physiologic Effects of a Conducted Electrical Weapon in Swine
published online 24 August 2007.
Study objective
By using an animal model, we determine whether repeated exposures to a conducted electrical weapon could have physiologic consequences.
Methods
Exposures to the Stinger S-400 conducted electrical weapon were applied to 10 healthy, anesthetized, Yorkshire-cross, male swine by attaching probes from the cartridge to the sternal notch and anterolateral thorax at a distance of 21.5 cm. The standard pulse generated by the Stinger S-400 during the normal application was applied 20 times during 31 minutes. To evaluate the health effects of the exposures, key physiologic characteristics were evaluated, including arterial pH, PCO2, PO2, blood lactate, cardiac output, ECG, pulse rate, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure and airway pressure, and the cardiac marker troponin I.
Results
There were notable changes in pH, PCO2, blood lactate, cardiac output, and mean arterial pressure after 1 or more sets of exposures, all of which normalized during the next few hours. Troponin I, PO2, pulse rate, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and airway pressure did not change markedly during or after the shocks. Three premature ventricular contractions occurred in one animal; all other ECG results were normal.
Conclusion
Repeated exposures to a conducted electrical weapon result in respiratory acidosis, metabolic vasodilation, and an increase in blood lactate level. These effects were transient in this study, with full recovery by 4 hours postexposure. The Stinger S-400 appears to have no serious adverse physiologic effects on healthy, anesthetized swine.
aBiomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
bSurgical Research Services, College of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
cPhysiology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Address for reprints: Cynthia Bir, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 818 W Hancock, Detroit, MI 48201; 313-577-3830, fax 313-577-8333
Supervising editor: Stephen R. Thom, MD, PhD
Author contributions: CAB conceived the study and obtained research funding. EJD, RLH, and CAB designed the trial. AOE, EJD, JAS-M, and RLH supervised the conduct of the trial and data collection. AOE and RLH collected the data. AOE analyzed the data. JAS-M examined the ECGs. AOE drafted the article, and all authors contributed substantially to its revision. AOE takes responsibility for the paper as a whole.
Funding and support: By Annals policy, all authors are required to disclose any and all commercial, financial, and other relationships in any way related to the subject of this article, that might create any potential conflict of interest. See the Manuscript Submission Agreement in this issue for examples of specific conflicts covered by this statement. This study was supported by Stinger Systems Inc. for funding of the technical costs of the study. The authors had sole responsibility for the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, and preparation of the article. None of the authors have any financial interest in Stinger Systems Inc., nor have they received any financial support from Stinger Systems Inc. outside of the grant.
Publication dates: Available online August 23, 2007.
ABSTRACT