Defibrillation
Defibrillation - Related Videos
08:33
Porcine Cardiac Arrest Model Using an Implantable Defibrillator
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2026
This protocol demonstrates the use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to reliably induce ventricular arrhythmias, perform internal cardioversion, and obtain intracardiac ECG recordings in a porcine model.
16:40
A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation
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Cited by 5 •
2012
Dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) may improve detection of atrial fibrillation as well as differentiation of tachycardias. However, this advantage is undermined by complications associated with the second electrode, which is required in conventional dual chamber devices. Therefore, BIOTRONIK has developed a new electrode called the LinoxSMART S DX that, when used in conjunction with the Lumax DX ICD, offers dual-chamber detection without the risks associated with the...
10:03
Basic Life Support: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Defibrillation
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2015
Source: Julianna Jung, MD, FACEP, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, USA High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the single most important determinant of intact survival in cardiac arrest, and it is critical that all healthcare workers are able to perform this lifesaving technique effectively. Despite the conceptual simplicity of CPR, the reality is that many providers perform it incorrectly, resulting in suboptimal...
09:47
A Rat Model of Ventricular Fibrillation and Resuscitation by Conventional Closed-chest Technique
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Cited by 26 •
2015
This article describes a rat model of electrically-induced ventricular fibrillation and resuscitation by chest compression, ventilation, and delivery of electrical shocks that simulates an episode of sudden cardiac arrest and conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The model enables gathering insights on the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest and exploration of new resuscitation strategies.
08:20
Basic Life Support Part II: Airway/Breathing and Continued Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
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2023
Source: Julianna Jung, MD, FACEP, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, USA High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation are the most important interventions for patients with cardiac arrest, and should be the first steps that rescuers perform. This is reflected in the American Heart Association's new "CAB" mnemonic. While rescuers were once taught the "ABCs" of cardiac arrest, they now learn "CAB" -...
FAQs
The electrical shock simultaneously depolarizes a critical mass of cardiac muscle. This broad electrical reset interrupts the disordered activity responsible for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Once that activity stops, the heart’s normal pacemaker and conduction system can potentially resume control, allowing an organized rhythm to reappear rather than continuing the ineffective electrical pattern.
Defibrillation is delivered without synchronizing the shock to a particular part of the cardiac cycle because it targets ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, which are life-threatening arrest rhythms. Cardioversion, by contrast, is synchronized to the cardiac cycle. This distinction reflects different electrical conditions and treatment approaches rather than merely different device settings.
The principal indications described for defibrillation are ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Both represent cardiac arrest situations in which the heart is not producing an effective organized rhythm and pulse. Identifying whether one of these rhythms is present is therefore central to deciding when an electrical shock should be used during emergency care.
Rapid recognition matters because defibrillation is an emergency treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrest rhythms. The intervention is performed alongside cardiopulmonary resuscitation, so recognizing the emergency promptly allows treatment efforts to begin without unnecessary delay. Early coordination of rhythm treatment and resuscitation is clinically important for improving outcomes after cardiac arrest.
Automated external defibrillators and manual defibrillators support shock delivery during cardiac arrest care. These devices are used alongside cardiopulmonary resuscitation, integrating electrical treatment with ongoing resuscitative efforts. Their role is to guide or enable delivery of the controlled shock when the clinical situation involves a rhythm for which defibrillation is indicated.
Both automated external and manual defibrillators are used to support defibrillation in clinical care, but the overview distinguishes them by how they guide shock delivery. Automated external defibrillators provide automated guidance, whereas manual defibrillators are used within clinical care for shock delivery. In either case, treatment occurs alongside cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
A desired electrical outcome is the return of an organized cardiac rhythm after the shock interrupts disordered ventricular activity. The heart’s normal pacemaker and conduction system may then resume control. In the clinical context of cardiac arrest, this rhythm-focused result is pursued together with cardiopulmonary resuscitation to improve the likelihood of a better outcome.