Defibrillation Health Article

Definition

Defibrillation is a process in which an electrical device called a defibrillator sends an electric shock to the heart to stop an arrhythmia resulting in the return of a productive heart rhythm.

Purpose

Defibrillation is performed to correct life-threatening arrhythmias of the heart including ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. In cardiac emergencies it should be performed immediately after identifying that the patient is experiencing an arrhythmia, indicated by lack of pulse and unresponsiveness. If an electrocardiogram is available, the arrhythmia can be displayed visually for additional confirmation. For medical treatment by a physician, in non-life threatening situations, atrial defibrillation can be used to treat atrial fibrillation or flutter.

Precautions

Defibrillation should not be performed on a patient who has a pulse or is alert, as this could cause a lethal heart rhythm disturbance or cardiac arrest. The paddles used in the procedure should not be placed on a woman's breasts or over an internal pacemaker.

Cardiac arrhythmias that prevent the heart from pumping blood to the body can cause irreversible damage to the major organs including the brain and heart. These arrhythmias include ventricular tachycardia, fibrillation, and cardiac arrest. About 10% of the ability to restart the heart is lost with every minute that the heart fibrillates. Death can occur in minutes unless a productive heart rhythm, able to generate a pulse, is restored through defibrillation. Because immediate defibrillation is crucial to the patient's survival, the American Heart Association has called for the integration of defibrillation into an effective emergency cardiac care system. The system should include early access, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early defibrillation, and early advanced cardiac care.

Defibrillators deliver a brief electric shock to the heart, which enables the heart's natural pacemaker to regain control and establish a productive heart rhythm. The defibrillator is an electronic device that includes defibrillator paddles and electrocardiogram monitoring.

During external defibrillation, the paddles are placed on the patient's chest with a conducting gel ensuring good contact with the skin. When the heart can be visualized directly, during thoracic surgery, sterile internal paddles are applied directly to the heart. Direct contact with the patient is discontinued by all caregivers. If additional defibrillation is required the paddles should be repositioned exactly to increase the likelihood of further shocks being effective in stopping the arrhythmia. The patient's pulse and/or electrocardiogram are continually monitored when defibrillation is not in progress. Medications to treat possible causes of the abnormal heart rhythm may be administered. Defibrillation continues until the patient's condition stabilizes or the procedure is ordered to be discontinued.

Early defibrillators, about the size and weight of a car battery, were used primarily in ambulances and hospitals. The American Heart Association now advocates public access defibrillation; this calls for placing automated external defibrillators (AEDS) in police vehicles, airplanes, and at public events, etc. The AEDS are smaller, lighter, less expensive, and easier to use than the early defibrillators. They are computerized to provide simple, verbal instructions to the operator and to make it impossible to deliver a shock to a patient whose heart is not fibrillating. The placement of AEDs is likely to expand to many public locations.