Which assessment is part of the work-up for lightning injuries?

• A. Electrocardiogram
• B. Chest X-ray
• C. CT Scan
• D. MRI Brain

Answer: (A)

Lightning strikes can disrupt the heart’s electrical system, so checking the heart rhythm early is essential. An electrocardiogram captures the heart’s rhythm and conduction in real time, making it the key part of the initial work-up to detect arrhythmias or myocardial injury and to guide urgent management. The other imaging choices—chest X-ray, CT scan, and MRI of the brain—are not routinely needed right away unless there are specific symptoms or injuries that indicate they’re warranted, such as respiratory distress, chest trauma, or focal neurologic signs. So the ECG is the best fit for the immediate assessment in lightning injuries.