Description
General Information About Defibrillators
Why Defibrillation?
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCR)-Rapid irregular rhythm causing heart to quiver
- Cause: Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
- Can lead to death if emergency shock not delivered
- Defibrillation – to counteract fibrillation
Defibrillator
- Device used to administer an electric current (shock) to the heart
- Types of Defibrillators
- Manual external
- Manual Internal
- Automated External (AED)
- Semi-Automated External
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)
Manual External Defibrillator
- Widely used in Hospitals and clinics
- Inbuilt EKG reader
- Clinician Diagnoses the condition and accordingly administers the shock through paddles or pads
Manual Internal Defibrillator
- Exclusively used in Operation Theatres
- Charge delivered through internal paddles in direct contact with the heart
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
- Used by lay persons requiring little training
- Built in heart rhythm analyzer
- Advices whether shock is required
Semi-Automated External Defibrillators
- Used by paramedics and emergency medical technicians
- Automated capabilities of AED
- With ECG display and manual over ride option
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
- Implants similar to pacemakers
- Constantly monitor heart rhythm
- Automatically administers shock for arrhythmias
Types of waveform – Shape of defibrillation current
- Monophasic damped sine waveform – delivers energy in one direction
- Relies on adjustment of joule settings
- Biphasic damped sine waveform – bi-directional current flow
- Measures impedance of patient and delivers precise dose of electricity
- Uses significantly low energy levels
- Decreases risk of burn in Myocardial damage
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