Ventricular fibrillation and defibrillation
- SMUR Pédiatrique, Réanimation Polyvalente (Paediatric Intensive Care), Hôpital Robert Debré APHP, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75935 Paris Cedex 19, France
- Peter Jones, SMUR Pédiatrique, Réanimation Polyvalente (Paediatric Intensive Care), Hôpital Robert Debré APHP, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75935 Paris Cedex 19, France; peter.jones{at}rdb.aphp.fr
- Accepted 23 February 2007
Abstract
Cardiac arrest in children is not often due to a disturbance in rhythm that is amenable to electrical defibrillation, contrary to the situation in adults. When a shockable rhythm is present, defibrillation using an external electric shock applied at an early stage after pre-oxygenation and chest compressions is of proven efficacy. Success at conversion of ventricular fibrillation is dependent on the delay before delivering the shock and defibrillation efficiency, which is itself a function of thoracic impedance, energy dose and waveform.
Footnotes
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Competing interests: None.
- Abbreviations:
- AED
- automated external defibrillator
- CPR
- cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- ERC
- European Resuscitation Council
- ILCOR
- International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation
- ROSC
- return of spontaneous circulation
- VF
- ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia
