Defibrillator - Heart Savior or Life Killer?

Defibrillator – heart savior or life killer? The typical thought is that a defibrillator is used to save lives, but how can it kill too?

A defibrillator is a medical device used in the defibrillation of the heart. Defibrillation is the definitive treatment for ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT), the two most common causes of sudden cardiac death.

Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF) is a condition in which there is uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle of the ventricles in the heart. As a result, the heart fails to adequately pump the blood, and tachycardia and hypoxia may occur.

Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach or VT) is a fast rhythm that originates in one of the ventricles of the heart. This is a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia because it may lead to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death.

Simply put, a defibrillator is a heart shocking device to “zap” the heart into normal rhythm after patients suffer irregular heartbeat or fibrillation, which are rapid, life-threatening arrhythmias, originating in the lower chambers of the heart.

The internal defibrillators are implanted surgically in the chest while the external ones are not. When a cardiac arrhythmia occurs, the capacitor is charged and the device delivers the appropriate shock.

According to The Defibrillator Working Group of the Food and Drug Administration if the defibrillators are “not used” correctly, it can kill too.

Some failures are attributable to component malfunctions such as a delay or non delivery of the appropriate required shock in a life threatening moment. Sometimes, defibrillators and batteries are kept in usage beyond an expected useful life, given the high level of clinical use.

However, the research of the working group shows that errors in operator use and errors in defibrillator care and maintenance account for many of the defibrillator failures. There is also inadequate initial training and continuing education was done cursorily.

Failure of operators to perform daily equipment checks leads to poor familiarity with the equipment and failure to identify component failures or damaged devices. This too leads to the failures of defibrillators to save lives.

Defibrillator – heart savior or life killer? Only if the users know what they are doing, then the defibrillator is a heart savior and not a life killer.

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Defibrillator Pads

Defibrillator pads are a useful tool for the management of life-threatening arrhythmias that occur during complex or reoperative cardiac surgical procedures. During these, internal defibrillation cannot be achieved. So two self-adhesive external pads are attached to the patient before the delivery of current for defibrillation or cardioversion is delivered. It does away with the need for removal of adhesive surgical drapes and the cumbersome use of external defibrillator paddles.

Defibrillator pads are constructed of a thin flexible conductor sandwiched between a protective polymer backing and a hydro-gel adhesive. These pads withstand the rigors of Cardio-Pulmonary resuscitation and harsh conditions. Soft, flexible and oval-shaped, these pads conform to body contours for larger surface contact and adhesion. These electrode pads can serve various important functions such as ECG monitoring, external pacing, and synchronized cardioversion as also defibrillation.

Defibrillators, ever since their invention, have traditionally been used on adults. Unfortunately, in recent times, there are many children who have succumbed to cardiac arrests. Special defibrillator pads can be used safely on children under 8 years or 55 pounds of weight. As per American Health Association guidelines, 50 J pads provides sufficient energy to ensure that children up to 8 years or 55 pounds receive at least 2 J/kg,

Defibrillator pads ease the defibrillator's shock from the adult dose of 150 Joules to just 50 Joules, an appropriate dose for infants and small children. The pad was designed carefully to ensure safety in treating infants and children. Their packaging, graphics and pink bear-shaped connector clearly communicate that they are for children.

It is not possible to perform significant defibrillation clinical trials on children to test for shock efficacy because of ethical reasons. American Health Association has laid down a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 100%.

When a small child suffers cardiac arrest, many response protocols traditionally bank on Cardio-Pulmonary resuscitation. A paramedic with a manual defibrillator must be on hand to do this, and not all paramedics have this equipment and training. This could lead to a tragic delay.

Automated defibrillator pads are recommended in cases of children with a known cardiac history. They are also recommended for use on adults undergoing complex surgical procedures.

Defibrillator provides detailed information on Defibrillator, Automated External Defibrillator, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, Portable Defibrillator and more. Defibrillator is affiliated with CPR Training.

Defibrillator Manufacturers

Each year, more than 250,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest. As per medical experts, it is vital to have a chain of sustaining events, which includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation. With recent technological advances, a portable lifesaving device called the automated external defibrillator has been invented. It is an important life saving device, and has saved many a cardiac patient's life.

Many companies manufacture defibrillators. These include Philips, Hewlett-Packard, Cardiac Health, Zoll and Lifepak, all of which have a good reputation and their various models are performing well.

Philips150 J SMART Biphasic to monophasic defibrillator was associated with superior efficiency and improved return of spontaneous circulation. The Philips system uses a design that has low-capacitance and efficiently generates a waveform. Philips HeartStart defibrillator offers ease-of-use, rugged reliability and dependable performance.

Hewlett Packard model 43110, a portable monitor/ defibrillator has the following features. It has built in monitor ECG source from either patient leads, or Defib paddles. The defibrillator can select the energy from 2 to 360 joules, on-screen display of ECG, pulse rate and defibrillator charge

Zoll Defibrillators are the smallest, lightest, most advanced defibrillator monitor ever made, with all the capabilities a patient needs. It weighs only5kg, only half the weight and a third the size of any unit in its class. This series has everything needed for cardiac resuscitation. It has a fast and easy- to- use defibrillation process using synchronized cardioversion and external pacing. It has ECG with advanced monitoring, built-in AC or DC power, and an integrated information management system. It also has a two- year full warranty.

HP HeartStream Defibrillators are extremely easy to use. Its design is based on years of research and refinement by Philips It is developed on the feedbacks from experts as well as lay people. On account of its ruggedness and ability to stand up to temperature extremes and wet conditions, it is one of the best options for harsh, outdoor, or mobile use. It weighs 4.7 pounds, and hence is small and lightweight.

These are some of the defibrillator manufacturers and their unique product features, which is responsible for saving many a cardiac patients life.

Defibrillator provides detailed information on Defibrillator, Automated External Defibrillator, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, Portable Defibrillator and more. Defibrillator is affiliated with CPR Training.