When an arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) occurs in the lower chambers of your heart (ventricles), defibrillation is the process of using an electrical current to help your heart return to a normal rhythm. Defibrillation can be life-saving. Defibrillation, often referred to as electrical cardioversion, works best when a medical professional shocks a patient as soon as cardiac arrhythmia begins.

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Who need defibrillation?

A person who suffers from one of the aforementioned particular arrhythmias may require defibrillation. Someone can assist them if they’re in a hospital or another location with an automated external defibrillator. However, people who are more likely to experience a potentially deadly cardiac rhythm should always carry a defibrillator.

Individual defibrillators

Personal defibrillator shocks can cause anything from a gentle shock to a shock that feels like someone kicked your chest.

Individuals who might have a serious arrhythmia could use:

a wearable cardiac defibrillator that resembles a vest. You wear this under your clothes so that your skin is in contact with the sensors. When necessary, they can transmit a shock based on the detection of an irregular rhythm.

An implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) monitors cardiac irregularities and administers the appropriate amount of shock therapy as necessary. A defibrillator can shock the heart when a deadly rhythm is identified, yet it still has the same function as a pacemaker to keep your heart pumping.

Why is cardioversion employed?

By using defibrillation, you can potentially survive abrupt cardiac arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be administered until a defibrillator is available. Defibrillation can be done on an individual who has an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker.

How often does defibrillation occur?

In the US, cardiac arrest affects around 184,000 people outside of hospitals and over 200,000 people inside of them; defibrillation may be administered in these cases.

What takes place prior to defibrillation?

Until a defibrillator is ready and charged, your first responder or healthcare practitioner will continue performing CPR.

They will make sure that no one is touching the shock recipient or their bed before administering the shock.

Airports and other public locations often include automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which can assess your heart’s rhythm and determine if an arrhythmia requires a shock. After charging, it speaks usage instructions to the user.

How does defibrillation work?

When performing a cardiac defibrillation, your healthcare practitioner will adhere to the following protocols:

Press two of the defibrillator’s adhesive pads or paddles to your chest. Two paddles or pads are placed one behind your left nipple and the other beneath your right shoulder. In order to prevent burns, the pads include conducting material; however, prior to employing the paddles, your physician must apply conducting material to your chest.

To release the charge on adhesive pads, press a button on the defibrillator. When use paddles, simultaneously push the button on each paddle.

By momentarily stopping the heart’s contracting muscle, defibrillation enables the heart to produce an electrical impulse and return to a regular beat. Defibrillation is essentially a cardiac restart.

What takes place following defibrillation?

In addition to performing CPR for two more minutes, your healthcare practitioner will check your heart rate and see whether you have a pulse. They will do more CPR and administer another shock if needed. If defibrillation fails, you may also get medication (amiodarone or adrenaline).

Once your blood starts flowing again, you might need to have your body temperature lowered to 89.6 to 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit (32 to 36 degrees Celsius) if you’re still not responding. You could require cardiac catheterization when you’re stabilized.

What benefits does defibrillation offer?

If defibrillation is administered during the first 10 minutes of ventricular fibrillation, it may be able to save your life.

What dangers or side effects might defibrillation cause?

You run the risk of inducing ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest if you attempt defibrillation on a person who does not exhibit ventricular tachycardia (no pulse).

How long does recuperation take?

For many survivors, recovering from cardiac arrest and defibrillation takes months or even years. Up to 40% of cardiac arrest survivors experience some degree of disability that prevents them from returning to their previous jobs or engaging in their usual daily activities after being discharged from the hospital. A lot of survivors struggle with exhaustion. In addition, you could require more time to heal from a CPR-induced rib fracture and manage other problems, such as seizures or difficulty walking. It’s possible that you require speech, physical, or occupational treatment.

When ought I to visit my physician?

Ventricular fibrillation is quite likely to recur in people who survive it. For this reason, your doctor will either address the underlying cause of your ventricular fibrillation or supply you with an ICD. To ensure your ICD is functioning properly, you will require routine examinations. After around five years, the battery has to be changed as well.

Recap

You should continue taking the medications that your doctor prescribed for you if you have an ICD or have had defibrillation. To ensure your ICD is operating properly, you’ll also need to schedule routine check-ups with your specialist. If you were defibrillated in an emergency, it can take months or even years for your body to heal. You can get better with physical therapy and other forms of rehabilitation, but they require patience and time.