Defibrillator
A defibrillator reestablishes normal heart rhythm using an electrical discharge. Defibrillators can be external, transvenous, or implanted, depending on the type of device used or needed.
¿How does it work?
Defibrillation is based in the application of a strong, but brief, high voltage electrical discharge in order to stop a rapid cardiac arrhythmia (situation in which there is an excess increase in the number of heart beats, caused by an irregular impulse trigger in the heart). The electrical shock stops the arrhythmia and allows the doctor to identify the causes.
¿When is it recommended?
In patients with cardiac arrest, loss of conciseness and ventricular fibrillation. In may seem ironic, even confusing to apply the term “cardiac arrest” to the result of a rapid arrhythmia. But, when the heart beats so many times in such a irregular and unorganized way, it cannot pump blood, so its activity stops. Under this conditions, if the arrhythmia is not stopped, dead will overcome the person in a few minutes. The only way to effectively and immediately do this is with electrical defibrillation.
