Defibrillation – what is it?

Defibrillation, also known as electrical defibrillation, is a medical procedure used during a resuscitation operation. Defibrillation is the application of a direct current of specific energy by applying a special device to the patient’s chest, called a defibrillator. Defibrillation can also be performed by directly affecting the heart muscle. Its purpose is to normalize (or restore) the heart rhythm in disorders such as ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

What is defibrillation and how is it different from cardioversion?

Defibrillation it is – apart from cardioversion – the basic procedure aimed at restoring normal heart rate. For both resuscitation procedures (defibrillation and cardioversion), the heart of a patient with a disturbed heart rhythm is treated with electricity, but the indications for their implementation are different (they are performed in other types of arrhythmias).

Defibrillation is performed in life-threatening conditions that require immediate intervention, such as pulseless ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.

Defibrillation it consists in restoring the proper function and pace of work of the heart muscle cells. After application defibrylatora The heart muscle cells stop simultaneously and then start working simultaneously, that is, they begin to contract synchronously, which causes the whole heart to work.

Cardioversion is a planned cardiac surgery performed in the case of atrial fibrillation and ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia. Before executing cardioversion ECG is performed because this procedure must be synchronized with the ECG recording – lack of such synchronization may cause ventricular fibrillation. Before the surgery cardioversion you shouldn’t eat for at least 6 hours.

Defibrillation it is performed in an emergency and does not require ECG monitoring of the heart or other preparatory procedures (usually there is no time for them, because seconds count; defibrillation surgery performed in conditions of immediate threat to the patient’s life).

In what cases is defibrillation performed?

Defibrillation is an emergency treatment disturbed or stopped beating of the heart, i.e. in states of direct threat to life. Such conditions, requiring immediate medical attention, include ventricular fibrillation (the occurrence of disordered, uncoordinated beats in the heart muscle, i.e. cardiomyocyte – heart contractions occur very frequently, but do not have the effect of oxygenation of the heart and brain) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. In both cases, the heart does not contract and cannot pump blood, although its individual cells are functioning. Defibrillation causes all myocardial cells to stop at the same time temporarily and then (and the whole heart) to start working properly.

How to properly perform defibrillation?

In order to comply defibrillation lay the patient on his back on a hard, dry surface (preferably on the floor). If the person with cardiac arrhythmia is outdoors, make sure that the ground around them is dry and that their body is not in contact with water (for example, not lying in a puddle). The patient’s body must also not come into contact with metal parts (for example, the bed frame). Expose the patient’s chest and attach (stick) two electrodes to it defibrylatora. They must lie directly against the skin on the chest – it must not be hairy, for example. Defibrillator In this way, it sends electrical impulses to the heart, which simultaneously stop all of its cells from working, and then cause the heart to contract properly.

Types of defibrillators

There are nowadays in public places such as metro stations, shopping malls, airports, gas stations and museums defibrylatory external, which can be used by any person if necessary, even without medical training. Defibrillator such gives voice instructions in Polish and allows you to carry out a rescue operation, for example in the event of an accident or sudden cardiac arrest.

Ambulances are used in hospitals and ambulances stationary defibrillators, equipped with metal “spoons” which are placed on the chest of the injured person. This kind defibrillator it also has a monitor that shows the type of arrhythmia.

Automatic external defibrillators (abbreviated AEDs) have disposable electrodes that are stuck to the victim’s chest and a device that analyzes the rhythm of the heart. AED decides on the basis of an analysis of the heart rate whether it is necessary defibrillation and whether CPR should be initiated or continued. If AED decides that there is a need for depibrillation, warns the witnesses of the event that it has been undertaken, and then performs the procedure until the normal work of the heart is restored.