Keraunopathology. An analysis of 45 fatalities.

An analysis of 45 victims of fatal lighting strike revealed the incident occurred most frequently in the early afternoon during midsummer in a field of one form or another. The scene of death, damage to clothing, and alterations of metallic objects on the victim are described. A terminal cardiac rhythm of ventricular fibrilation was recorded in half for whom data were available, and asystole was found in 40%. All but four had cutaneous injuries, and nearly one-third had pathognomonic patterns of erythematous arborization. When examined, tympanic membranes were found to be ruptured in > 80%. This study also revealed that craniocerebral injury and cardiac contusion can be serious direct consequences of lightning strike. A correlative approach to the investigation and autopsy of lightning victims is suggested.