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Defibrillation is the definitive treatment for the life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Defibrillation consists of delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected heart with a device called a defibrillator. This depolarizes a critical mass of the heart muscle, terminates the arrhythmia, and allows normal sinus rhythm to be reestablished by the body's natural pacemaker, in the sinoatrial node of the heart. Defibrillators can be external, transvenous, or implanted, depending on the type of device used. Some external units, known as automated external defibrillators (AEDs), automate the diagnosis of treatable rhythms, meaning that lay responders or bystanders are able to use them successfully with little, or in some cases no, training.
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∙ 15y ago
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Why was the cardiac defibrillator created?
to defibrillate why else would you need it?
Can you defibrillate yourself?
You can, but you will die from doing it because it was only made to save people if there dead
Can you defibrillate a pregnant woman?
you can, but it will kill the woman and her baby inside because it's only made to revive a dead person
In cardiac arrest the AED defibrlillates over time?
If it is a shockable rhythm, the AED will analyze and defibrillate as needed. Continue CPR when not analyzing and/or shocking.
Why is it important to defibrillate as soon as possible in cardiac arrest?
An AED is a device which uses an electrical shock to restart a heart that has failed during cardiac arrest. This device can be crucial, because when the heart stops beating during cardiac arrest, their blood also stops pumping, which can deprive the brain of oxygen and lead to serious brain damage should they survive. The faster the heart is restarted, the higher the chances of survival.
Why are penetrating trauma patients not defibrilated in prehospital paramedic care?
In my experience as an EMT observer, I've never seen this not happen before. If patients need to be defibrillated, they will be. It depends on the ECG readings, the amount of heart stimulating drugs administered, and current condition of the patient. If paramedics and on-line medical control deem it necessary to deliver a shock, they will if necessary. I've never seen code that says to not defibrillate a patient if required.
What is the contraindication for AED?
An Automated External Defibrillator is a very intelligent device. Although its use may not be called for the persons signs symptoms, rarely will its application to a person cause "harm". Reasons why you wouldn't use an AED. If the person is conscious, breathing or has a pulse. Precautions to follow when using an AED: Do not touch the person when the device is analyzing or defibrillating. Do not allow yourself or anyone else to come into contact with the person or the recitation equipment while the device is defibrillating. Do not use alcohol to dry the persons chest. Do not defibrillate around flammable materials. i.e. Gasoline, free flowing oxygen. Do not use Adult pads on a child under age 8 or weighing less than 55lbs unless pediatric equipment specific to the device is not available (local protocols may differ on this and should be followed) Do not use pediatric pads on an adult. They may not deliver enough energy. Do not defibrillate someone who is in contact with water. Move them away from puddles or out of the rain before defibrillating. Do not use an AED on someone wearing a medication patch. With a gloved hand remove the patch before attaching the pads.
When operating in AED?
AED precautions are: 1) Do not touch the victim when the AED is analyzing; 2) Do not touch the victim when the AED is defibrillating (shocking); 3) Do not use alcohol to wipe the victims chest; 4) Do not defibrillate around flammable materials; 5) Do not use the AED in a moving vehicle; 6) Do not use the AED in water; 7) Do not use adult pads on children and children pads on adults; 8) Do not use a phone / radio within 6 feet of the AED when in use; 9) Remove any patched from chest area before use (it could be a nitro pad).
When using an Automated External Defibrillator does it matter which pad goes on the left side of the chest and which pad goes on the right side of the chest?
There is a picture on each pad that shows it's proper location on the chest. Used in the configuration shown is the best chance to defibrillate a heart that is fibrillating and has caused the person to "die". That being said all models currently being used are bipasic meaning a charge is sent in both directions where in the past they were monophasic, only shocking from positive to negative pads. If you reverse the pads it will most often work just fine, in fact one model AED does not use a positive and negative pad and they can be interchanged. In very small children over 8 ( over 55 pounds) their chest is at times so small you can not use the adult pads in the configuration shown so you use the position shown on the pads designed for 1-8 year olds which is anterior/posterior or one in the center front of chest and the other on back between the shoulder blades directly behind the one in front. If you notice at some point you have reversed the pads, do not delay defibrillation, let the machine tell you what to do.
Does congestive heart failure improve with a pacemaker?
Yes, you should externally defibrillate a patient with a pacemaker who has gone into cardiac arrest. Chest compressions, rescue breathing and standard cardiac arrest procedures should be followed, while paying attention to the following points.EMS personnel should be aware that the pacemaker has its own implanted defibrillator and will fire charges at regular intervals. This should not harm the person doing chest compressions. A slight tingling feeling may be felt on the patient as the shock from the pacemaker is delivered. To avoid this, wear thick nitrile or latex gloves while doing chest compressions.The shock from the external defibrillator may cause damage to the pacemaker, and even interfere with it. To lessen the risk of this, the defibrillator should be placed on the lowest possible charge that is clinically accepted. If you notice that the implanted defibrillator and the external defibrillator both deliver a shock at the same time, standard procedure dictates that you wait 30 to 60 seconds prior to re-shocking with the external defibrillator. In the meantime, chest compressions and manual ventilation may be commenced.Intubation, artificial airways and other standard practices should be performed, despite the patient having a pacemaker.It is also vital that urgent medical help be called as with all cardiac arrest patients. Remember, cardiac arrest patients are not normally transported in the ambulance unless they are revived on scene.
Are zombies coming in the future?
Most likely, no. However, science is unpredictable! You never know...! It is a possibility, but not a very likely one! In real life no one has ever demonstrated an ability to reanimate the dead, so there is no scientific reason to think there will ever be zombies. There are already zombie-like parasites and viruses that infect insects. This combined with the fact that wood frogs freeze themselves completely in the winter months and reanimate spontaneously afterwards leads to the potential of science fully taking hold of cryogenics and bringing people who have been dead for years back from the grave. These could be considered as zombies, but not the traditional horror zombies, so in that sense there will never be zombies. To correct something said above... Once upon a time, not too many years ago, death was defined by the stoppage of the heart. If your heart stopped, that was it. Now we routinely defibrillate, and use adrenalin, or heart massage, to restart hearts. By that standard, "zombies" already exist! Now death is defined as brain death. Maybe someday we will learn to restart brains as well, and need a new definition of "dead".
Why do people need a pace maker?
If a person's natural heart rate (sinus rhythm) is too slow then the heart will not be able to pump enough blood to meet the needs of their body. A pacemaker is a small implantable device that can increase the heart rate by using an electrical stimulus to cause the heart muscle to contract. The pacemaker can be programed to stimulate the heart at a desired rate to increase the heart rate and enable cardiac output to be sufficient.
