What is DC shock and its types?

Answer 1

DC shock, or using it's full name, DCCS (Direct Current Counter Shock) is the process of delivering an electrical shock to the heart muscle. This medical procedure is commonly referred to as defibrillation and is generally only performed to correct potentially life-threatening arrythmias such as Vf (ventricular fibrillation) or VT (ventricular tachycardia). The two most common types of defibrillation are monophasic and biphasic. To perform external defibrillation (the kind you see on medical drama shows - "CLEAR" ... ) two electrical pads are placed on the chest. One on the right side of the chest, just below the collar bone and the other on the left side of the chest, near the base of the ribs and almost in line with the armpit. In monophasic defibrillation the electricity flows from the right pad, through the chest and the heart to the left pad. In biphasic defibrillation, electricity is directed from the right pad, through the chest to the left pad and then immediately back through the chest again to the right pad. Biphasic defibrillation is generally accepted to be more effective in stopping life-threatening arrythmias and requires a lesser amount of energy to achieve this. (150-200 joules compared to 300-360 joules in an adult).