Ventricular Septal Heart Defects Linked to Antidepressants

PAXIL AND THE POSSIBLE LINK TO VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECTS Paxil may be the end-all and cure-all when it comes to depression, but nearly 20 years after it was released to the general public, more and more studies are showing the negatives may far outweigh the positives. Despite being the most popular and well respected drugs to control depression, Paxil has entered the third decade of its existence with a whole new slew of side effects that may be worse than the disease it was designed to control.

One of these side effects is known as Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD), a congenital heart defect. A VSD is a problem with the wall between the left and right side of the heart. To understand beeter what a VSD is, picture or a poorly built apartment building. The walls are in this apartment building are so thin that if you were to hammer a nail into the wall, the pointy end would protrude into your neighbor’s apartment. Now picture the same thing with the left and right sides of your heart. Not a pretty picture is it?

In September 2005, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) released a study showing that pregnant women who use Paxil during the first trimester are two times more likely to have a baby with birth defects. The most common defect of Paxil users, according to the FDA, is VSD. Put simply, VSDs are holes in the heart ranging in size from a problem that can correct itself as the baby grows older to holes that require surgery to repair.

FUTURE CARE OF VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECTS You may decide the risk to your future child of your ingesting using Paxil is not enough to warrant the risk of your depression resurfacing if stop using the drug. There are other Paxil side effects down the road that you need to be aware however. Babies born with ventricular septal defects sometimes require ongoing care throughout their life. And the restrictions imposed on their lives can effect more than their physical health.

• Medical – If your baby is born with VSD, it is necessary for a physician to periodically check the heart to make sure there are no problems.

• Activity restrictions – Though most patients won’t have to limit their activities much, there is a small percentage who will. Activities as simple as playing in the backyard and riding a bike may be limited.

• Medicinal therapy – Some patients, even after surgery, suffer with a heart that is less able to contract. In these cases the patients uses diuretics to help the heart pump better.

• More surgery – Most people with uncomplicated ventricular septal defects that are repaired early rarely need further surgery. However, residual effects in some patients have been found. In this case, more surgery may be required.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHOICES

Of all the defects associated with the use of Paxil, ventricular septal defects are the most common. The side effects may not be enough to warrant you, as the mother, to cease using the drug. After all, most of the issues of a “hole in the heart” can be easily repaired with surgery and medicinal therapy. However, there is the risk of a hole in the heart that cannot be repaired and the risk of a child being on medication the rest of their life. The choice is yours.

Schmidt & Clark | A National Law Firm specializes in mass torts and drug side effect lawsuits. For more information or a free review of your potential case, please visit: http://www.schmidtandclark.com or Paxil Ventricular Septal Heart Birth Defects.

Antidepressants and Ventricular Septal Defects

Just like the atrial chambers (the left atrium and right atrium), the ventricular chambers also have a wall dividing them. The left ventricle and the right ventricle are divided by the ventricular septum and it is this septum that prevents arterial blood from mixing with venous blood.

When arterial blood mixes with venous blood, there are a multitude of potential side effects that could occur to a person as a result of this mixing. First and foremost, the main effect of the mixing the blood together is that the oxygenated and non-oxygenated blood groups will intermingle with each other, creating an imbalance between the blood coming in and leaving the heart. Some of the blood coming into the heart will already be oxygenated and some blood will leave the heart with poor oxygenation. This poorly oxygenated blood will circulate around the body and organs that are very sensitive to changes in blood oxygen levels (such as the Brain) may become damaged if a prolonged period of poor blood oxygenation takes place.

Additionally, there are also blood pressure concerns that can arise from the mixing of arterial and venous blood, not to mention the possibility of chronic pulmonary hypertension problems. These are the kinds of problems that can result from a hole in heart condition, especially if that condition is a ventricular septal defect (a hole in the ventricular septum). In general it is a very undesirable problem to have because of the large number of complications that can result from it.

The Connection to Paxil

In 2005 (especially late 2005 in the September to December month range), a lot of information was revealed about the side effects of Paxil. From the FDA warnings against pregnant women taking Paxil to multiple studies that showed the drug’s propensity to cause multiple birth defects, Paxil and all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were deemed dangerous to fetal matter and as such all pregnant women were urged to avoid taking those kinds of drugs.

Amongst the rather large list of birth defects that had been traced to the use of Paxil was the ventricular septal defect. In many ways, this defect is worse for infants than it is for adults, because adults by and large, with medical assistance in some cases, have learned to deal with the problems of having a ventricular septal defect. In newborn children, obviously that acclimation is not there and conditions like pulmonary hypertension that result from a ventricular septal defect can be very painful for the child to experience and very stressful for the parent to see.

As with most things relating to the world of drug taking, knowledge and information are a person’s best allies. If you are pregnant and suffering from depression, try to seek alternatives to taking SSRI drugs such as Paxil. If you must take these types of drugs, do so only under the supervision of a medical professional and do not under any circumstances take the drug without the permission of one. The list of mothers today that regret taking Paxil during their pregnancy is vast and many of them feel nothing but sorrow for the painful lives their children now lead.

Schmidt & Clark | A National Law Firm specializes in mass torts and drug side effect lawsuits. For more information or a free review of your potential case, please visit: http://www.schmidtandclark.com or Paxil VSD Attorney

Does Caffeine Cause Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a heart disorder, most often found in older adults. During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s two small upper chambers quiver rather than beating effectively. As a result, blood isn’t pumped completely out of the chambers, so it can pool and clot.

Approximately 2.2 million Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation. The likelihood of developing this disorder increases with age. Doctors estimate that three to five percent of those over age 65 have this disorder.

Atrial fibrillation can be dangerous because, if a piece of a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke can result. In fact, about 15% of all strokes occur in people with atrial fibrillation.

There are several ways to treat atrial fibrillation. The most common treatments include:

• Medications, which slow down the rapid heart rate associated with atrial fibrillation.

• Electrical cardioversion - This is basically an electric shock that restores normal rhythm. It is typically used when medications don’t improve symptoms.

• Drugs can sometimes restore the heart's normal rhythm. These drugs are given under medical supervision, and are delivered through an IV tube into a vein, usually in the patient's arm.

• Radiofrequency ablation may be effective in some patients when medications don't work. In this procedure, thin and flexible tubes are introduced through a blood vessel and directed to the heart muscle. Then a burst of radiofrequency energy is delivered to destroy tissue that triggers abnormal electrical signals or to block abnormal electrical pathways.

• Surgery can be used to disrupt electrical pathways that generate atrial fibrillation.

• Pacemakers can be implanted under the skin to regulate the heart rhythm.

Who’s At Risk for Atrial Fibrillation?

We don’t really know what causes atrial fibrillation, but we do understand some of the risk factors. The most significant are:

• Increased age – the number one risk factor is simply old age

• Coronary heart disease

• High blood pressure

• Abnormal heart muscle function

• Disease of the mitral valve between the left and right ventricle

• An overactive thyroid gland

• Low amounts of oxygen in the blood. This is often found in patients with lung diseases like emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• Inflammation of the lining surrounding the heart

• Blood clots in the lung

• Chronic lung disease

• Alcoholism

• Stimulant drug use – abuse of drugs like cocaine or decongestants

• Recent heart or lung surgery

• Congenital heart disease

In addition, there are young adults who have atrial fibrillation without any known cause or any evidence of underlying heart disease. This condition is known as lone atrial fibrillation. Stress, alcohol, tobacco and the use of stimulants is believed to play a role in lone atrial fibrillation. Does Caffeine Cause Atrial Fibrillation?

One question that has been asked by many people is whether caffeine contributes to atrial fibrillation, and whether caffeine consumption is safe for those with atrial fibrillation.

One study, reported by the UK Tea Council, suggests that caffeine consumption is safe for those at risk for the disease. This study, conducted in Denmark, examined nearly 48,000 participants, each over the age of 56. Their caffeine consumption was analyzed over a period of years, as was their health information, including whether or not they went on to develop atrial fibrillation.

The study concluded that caffeine consumption was not at all related to whether or not participants developed the heart disorder. The associated researchers did not recommend that those at risk for atrial fibrillation discontinue the consumption of caffeine.

This is great news, especially for green tea drinkers. Since green tea is known to be associated with a lower than average risk of heart disease, it’s wise for those at risk of any sort of cardiovascular disease to consume green tea on a daily basis. And, while green tea is lower in caffeine than coffee, black tea and soda, it does contain some caffeine.

So, you’re safe to drink your green tea, both for its health benefits and its delicious and refreshing flavor. If you’re not a connoisseur of green tea yet, take a look at all the benefits that green tea can offer.

• Green tea is full of anti-oxidants – which are known to reduce aging and prevent disease.

• Green tea has been shown to decrease your risk of heart disease by improving your cholesterol. While green tea doesn’t actually reduce the cholesterol in your blood, it does appear to prevent the bad cholesterol from hardening into the plaque that causes narrowing of the arteries.

• Green tea has been associated with a lower risk of many forms of cancer. It is believed that green tea’s anti-oxidants act as a scavenger to abnormal cells, ridding the body of them before they can mutate into cancer cells.

• Green tea has been shown to naturally regulate blood glucose levels, which may help maintain normal weight and may be helpful in controlling Type II diabetes

• Green tea has been shown to have anti-microbial properties, which means that it may be helpful in ridding the body of infections.

So, if you haven’t been drinking green tea, see what you’ve been missing? Not only is green tea delicious, inexpensive and readily available, but it may also be an important way to prevent disease and protect your health.

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

PAD - Reasons To Encourage Public Access Defibrillation

There are successful PAD campaigns that are currently running in the US . For example, in Pittsburgh Subway stations 500 AEDs have been installed. The AEDs are easily recognized as they are carrying a sticker that features the international AED symbol - that is a red heart with a white lightning bolt. Other good examples of offering public access to defibrillators can be found in Indianapolis International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Colorado Springs Airport, Nashville International Airport, St. Louis International Airport/Lambert Field, Tampa International Airport and Tucson International Airport – they all carry AEDs for public access.

Only 10 months after this program has been initiated, the survival rate of SCA patients has risen to a pleasing 75%. According to a New England Journal of Medicine research carried out in casinos in Las Vegas, 74% of gamblers who experienced sudden cardiac arrest survived after getting defibrillated within 3 minutes. When American Airlines fitted automated defibrillators aboard, cardiac arrest survival rates rose to 40%.

Other successful programs include the "First Responder Defibrillator Program," in Boston . Under this program, Boston Emergency Medical Services provides CPR and AED training at no cost to any company that purchases a defibrillator. Since the program was launched, 5,000 people have been trained, automated external defibrillators have been placed in over 90 locations all over the city, and the cardiac arrest survival rate has doubled. In another triumphant program, the Rochester , MN police became the first police department in the state equipped with AEDs. Since then, cardiac arrest survival rates in Rochester have nearly doubled. In most states there are laws that protect those who have negligently used an AED.

Even if the automated external defibrillators are very easy to use, it is necessary that people benefit of some basic AED training in order to avoid negligent use of this device and make the AEDs fully effective. The basic training must consist of at least 3 or 4 hours of training. All training programs must include the study of: proper AED use, maintenance as well as periodic inspection of the device. The trainees must also learn how to perform CPR, as this procedure is needed in the majority of sudden cardiac arrest cases. The trainees must know how to call for specialized help and how to report the incident after having identified the problem. They will get acquainted with the local EMS system. After having completed the AED course, one must be able to determine the state of a patient and whether the use of an AED is needed. The AED trainee should to be able to assess the state of the patient after the shock delivery. The trainees also have to know what precautions are needed in order to perform a safe defibrillation.

Automated external defibrillators usage by the general public

After having finished such a course, the trainee will have to pass a test so as to be able to be authorized in using an AED. A re-training should take place every two years and also some practice is strongly recommended so as not to forget the acquired skills. Presently, there are several automated external defibrillator training courses provided by the American Heart Association (AHA) or the Red Cross on request. These institutions are highly competent in training methods and public heath and safety is the number one priority. There are also other organizations that will provide specialized training for potential AED users. Some campaigns even suggest the introduction of AED basic training in health education classes during secondary education. Media campaigns to educate and motivate "citizen responders" are being created and implemented to support PAD.

For more resources on Automated External Defibrillators and updated information on Public Access Defibrillation, please visit our website, Defibrillatorhub.com where you can allso access information on AED grants

Heartstart Defibrillators - Should Every House Really Have A Heartstart Defibrillator?

There seems to be a tremendous push for safety lately. I’ve seen countless articles written about how to buy the safest car seat, or which cars performed best in crash tests, or how essential it is to have an escape plan in case of a house fire. I don’t discount how important these things are, and applaud the fact that these safety issues are being brought to the forefront. But it seems odd to me that people don’t hesitate to spend extra money making their cars and homes safer, but seem to balk at the idea of spending money on a home defibrillator, like the Heartstart Defibrillator.

In case you’ve never heard of the Heartstart Defibrillator, it’s an at-home defibrillator - the only one currently available without a prescription. It literally can mean the difference between a person surviving sudden cardiac arrest or not, yet most people have never heard of it or balk at the price tag or don’t think having an at-home defibrillator is really necessary.

So, who really should buy something like the Heartstart Defibrillator? Is it really necessary for EVERY home?

If someone is young and healthy and has no history of heart trouble, they may not need to purchase the Heartstart Defibrillator (especially if money is tight.) Although sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at anytime, there are risk factors associated with it (such as age, a history of heart problems, etc.) and if someone does not have these risk factors, they may feel comfortable getting by without a Heartstart Defibrillator in their house. Also, people living alone may choose not to buy one, since they obviously will not be able to use it on themselves should they go into sudden cardiac arrest. In addition, if someone has severe financial problems and can barely make ends meet, they should perhaps wait until they are in a better financial state before buying an at-home defibrillator.

However, if there is even the slightest risk factor in a family for sudden cardiac arrest and it is not a financial hardship, I believe getting an at-home defibrillator is one of the smartest moves you can make! I sincerely hope that none of you reading this article will ever be in a position to use it, but I think the peace of mind that comes with this product alone is worth the price tag.

In conclusion, who should buy a Heartstart Defibrillator? Ultimately, it’s a personal choiceand is up to the family. It is not necessary for every home, but definitely could prove life-saving in those homes that have a family member who is at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. My motto is “better safe than sorry”, especially when it comes to the safety of your loved ones. But my advice, think it over and do the research to find out if getting a Heartstart Defibrillator is right for you.

Visit http://heartstart-defibrillator-reviews.com to learn more about this life-saving product and to be offered a chance to purchase the product at $800 off list price!

Death Could Be Less Than a Heartbeat Away - Without an Automated External Defibrillator

The automated external defibrillator is, amazingly, still a device that is not commonly known about. I say amazingly, because the ailment it treats is one of the most insidious killers in the US today. That is, sudden cardiac arrest.

Heart disease comes in many forms, some brought on by bad living habits - such as eating too much fried or fatty food, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, etc. Other forms of heart disease are congenital, meaning they are present at birth. And still others, to this day are still unresolved as to their cause.

There is however, one ailment of the heart, above all others in its impact on life. That ailment, is sudden cardiac arrest. It claims over 250,000 American lives a year, and given the current eating habits in the US, looks only to get worse. I say that because our eating habits now tend to produce or accelerate heart disease.

Although sudden cardiac arrest can claim the life of anyone, young or old, sick or seemingly well, it is much more prevalent among people who already suffer one or more of the heart diseases mentioned above.

Sudden cardiac arrest, in its basic definition, is simply the cessation of regular heart activity in an individual, suddenly and unexpectedly. Its triggers can vary -- from sudden, blunt impact to the chest area (as in the case of a baseball player being hit in the chest by a baseball traveling at 90 mph), to clogged arteries, as in the case of heart attack sufferers. The outcome, however, is about 95% of the time, unchanging. Death of the victim.

This inevitability is due to the speed with which a victim dies. It is less time than would normally take a medical crew to arrive at the scene. If the victim is without a heartbeat for more than approximately 4 to 6 minutes, brain and body death begin. Between 6 and 10 minutes and you may as well read the last rites.

If a defibrillator is used, survival rates increased dramatically (up to around 75%).

What is an automated external defibrillator?

The automated external defibrillator is a machine that is easily portable and able to administer an electrical shock to the heart muscle, basically kicking it back into a regular, synchronous beating activity.

A defibrillator, until the mid-80s, would only have been found in medical facilities and medical emergency vehicles. They tended to be cumbersome, technical to operate, and could be a danger to the operator if not used correctly.

Enter the automated external defibrillator

The newest versions of these machines are small (about the size of a baseball mitt), so easy to operate a child could use one, and safe for the operator. Great technological strides indeed have been made in recent years, resulting in external automated defibrillators that can be used in the home, in the office, and in public gathering places such as stadiums, churches, sports arenas, etc.

For people who have known heart conditions, these are the best thing to come along since the invention of the wheel. They can allow them mobility with safety, and assurance in the knowledge that if cardiac arrest strikes, there is a machine at their side that any bystander or family member could use to save their life.

As you can probably tell by now, automated external defibrillators need to be in more homes, offices, and public gathering places than they currently are. To do this more public awareness is needed about the automated external defibrillator. They are actually the greatest insurance policy someone with heart disease (or even without) could have against this insidious killer.

We can reduce unnecessary deaths from SCA dramatically if more people have available to them an automated external defibrillator, and if more public officials are made aware of the need for automated external defibrillators in schools, colleges, and universities.

If you can see the urgency and need, why not forward this e-mail to your congressmen or congresswoman, and your friends and family.

It is still true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Having an automated external defibrillator available for use in a cardiac emergency is like having a pound of prevention and a ton of cure. That might be something to strive for.

Graham Hobbs is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Automated External Defibrillator, where you can find out why a defibrillator could one day save your life.

This Movie is a Real Heart Stopper, So Grab Your Defibrillator!

At first glance you see the name Robert England and there is a glimmer of hope! This movie does make your heart beat, but will you go flat line? Will you need a sexy young nurse to resuscitate you? If your a horror movie enthusiast, grab your cell phone and tell some friends to come over! Make sure they bring their straight jackets!

Yes! Many will call this a cheesy horror movie flick! One thing you should know before you start flogging tomatoes at your tv screen, is that you get to see Robert England! There have been rumors of a Freddy Krueger come back, but it has not surfaced to the big screen. When the Freddy Krueger movies came out, I was just a teen, and the first one scared the abyss out of me!

The filming in this movie was well done, and the acting was average, but if you like a lot of blood, the movie does deliver. The tag line for the movie is: Each beat may be your last... In the movie's defense, I will say it is better than most of the direct to dvd videos on the market. It is hard to have your expectations met easily, with a B flick! I was just happy to see Robert England, since he is a horror movie icon from my teenage years! Freddy Krueger did leave a nice deep gashing wound on our gray matter with his razor sharp blades!

I have to agree with other comments online, that the plot is hurting and bleeding from the heart! Again, the movie is worth it just to see Robert England! Anything with him in it will be a collectible! Good or Bad! The movie just keeps moving at a fast pace in most sequences, and the girl who plays the main character is attractive. Sara Wexler(Meredith Henderson) plays a teenager who was not going to make it through high school. Incidentally, Meredith Henderson is from Canada and I have noticed some very hot women, starring in horror movies from Canada!

The pressure of her classmates calling her names, nearly lead to a successful suicide attempt, which opened the doors for Mr. Satanic Serial-Killer(James Binkley) to choose his sexy young victim. What he called his vessel, because his body needed a new one fast! I cannot help it! I have to see at least one hot girl in a horror movie, because it actually helps me make it through the boring parts, to the next scene!

Not to bring you back to any bad memories, but I am sure your reading this, and can recall some horrific teen experience. Maybe a bad relationship, demanding teacher, over protective parent, friends getting killed in an accident, and remember riding your bike while a rabid dog is chasing you! I can see the foam building around the lips of the demon dog now! Hence, the one good point of this heart stopping horror flick, is those lovely, unforgettable teenage years! My dad always said if you live through your teenage years, your lucky!

Chambers (James Binkley) plays a good psychopath role and he reminds me of a sick and twisted Vin Diesel, recovering from rehab. He does present a powerful masculine deep voice and is voracious with his killing spree. When you watch this movie, you will notice he does a good job for a B movie. This is the first movie, where I have seen so many bloody hearts, that I lost count! If you love seeing someone with a cool tattoo, strong muscular build, stick his hand like a spear, into a persons chest and rip out a fresh pumping, blood spurting heart, then you have a winner! This movie really does get to the heart of the matter.

Does this movie have its finger on the kill switch? I will let you be the judge of that! I know there is some soul out there, lurking in the deep shadows of the night, waiting, yes, waiting for the ultimate horror movie, the one that will touch you as Freddy Krueger first did and leave you in the tender arms of Michael Myers of Halloween. In the mean time, we take them as they come. I had a mortician once tell me, that there is a lot of stiff competition out there! The horror directors need to stand up, take Viagra and rise to the occasion for a plot, that kills us!

DeWayne H. Strickland has been a Film Freak since the time he could walk. He is a crazy movie review critic and researcher. Learn How to Seduce Women, with Almost "Hypnotic Control" and "Accuracy" at: http://www.moviedownloadmatrix.com

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.

Biphasic Defibrillators

A defibrillator is an instrument that carries out defibrillation on the chambers of the heart. When the device is implanted in the user, it is known as an implantable cardioverter or internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD). Traditionally, monophasic waveforms were used in these implements but research studies have shown that biphasic waveforms are better suited for such equipments.

In monophasic defibrillators, electrical pulses are sent rapidly from one electrode to the other, in a single direction. In case of biphasic defibrillation, the direction of the pulses alternates, completing one cycle in approximately 10 milliseconds. Biphasic defibrillation was originally developed and used for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. They use a different waveform technology than the monophasic ones. It uses either a biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) waveform or a rectilinear biphasic waveform. In the first phase, the current moves from one paddle to the other as with monophasic defibrillators. During the second phase, the current flow reverses direction, thus lowering the electrical threshold for successful defibrillation.

The American Health Association has a different opinion about low-energy biphasic defibrillation. As per them, biphasic defibrillation is now a part of advanced cardiac life support guidelines. Biphasic shocks at energy levels of 200 joules or less are at least as safe and effective as monophasic shocks with traditional energies between 200 and 360 joules. Biphasic shocks of 200 joules or less are now classified as a Class II-A recommendation.

The biphasic defibrillation process varies depending on the specific biphasic waveform used. External biphasic defibrillation offers equal or better value at lower energies than traditional monophasic waveform defibrillators .It has less risk of post -shock myocardial dysfunction and skin burns. There is a significant cost and size saving which helps in the proliferation of the automated external defibrillators.

When low-energy biphasic shocks were used, the left ventricular ejection fraction and mean arterial pressure returned to baseline more quickly. In conclusion, based on all the research studies carried out till date, biphasic cardioversion is more effective than monophasic cardioversion in patients with acute atrial fibrillation

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