Ventricular Fibrillation Associated with an Electrically Operated Bed

A PATIENT was thrown into ventricular fibrillation when the controller of his electrically operated bed was submerged in urine. Current from a conventional 120-volt grounded power line passed from the controller, into the urine pool and through the patient's buttocks and returned to ground via a monitor electrode pasted to the precordial skin. Case Report A 53-year-old man was admitted to an intensive-care unit of the Massachusetts General Hospital on May 30, 1968, with an extensive acute anterolateral myocardial infarction. His condition stabilized rapidly, and there was no indication of congestive heart failure. Continuous electrocardiographic monitoring disclosed no arrhythmias. At . . .