Summer BanksDefibrillation
November 9th 2006 13:19
Defibrillation :
Defibrillation is a technique to correct ventricular fibrillation, a condition marked by very rapid, disorganized twitching or trembling of the heart muscle in place of the normal rhythmic beat. Ventricular fibrillation produces a condition called cardiac arrest, in which no heartbeat, pulse, or blood pressure can be detected. Death or permanent brain damage follows within a few minutes unless this condition is corrected or unless first-aid measures maintain blood circulation and breathing until emergency medical treatment is available.
Causes of Fibrillation :
The most common cause of fibrillation is a heart attack. When this happens, certain parts of the heart will start contracting independently of the normal heartbeat. Other causes of fibrillation are severe electrical shock and prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.
Defibrillation Treatment :
An electrical device called a defibrillator is used to correct fibrillation. A pair of metal paddles are placed on the patient's chest, and a jolt of direct-current electricity from the defibrillator is directed into the heart to shock it back into its regular rhythm. The shock stops the independent action of individual muscle fibers and allows the natural pacemaker of the heart to take over again.
Once the normal heartbeat has been restored, a drug such as lidocaine is injected to prevent further fibrillation. An intravenous tube is inserted to administer sodium bicarbonate (to neutralize acids in the blood) and other medication. A breathing tube may be passed into the trachea (windpipe); it is attached to a mechanical pump that forces air in and out of the lungs. Then the patient is taken to a hospital cardiac intensive care unit, where monitoring devices constantly keep track of the patient's condition and sound an alarm if any sign of danger threatens.
Electrical defibrillation is also used to restart a heart that has been stopped for purposes of heart surgery.
In patients with severe heart disease and recurrent episodes of ventricular fibrillation, a defibrillator can be implanted under the skin and attached to the heart. The defibrillator internally shocks the heart when ventricular fibrillation occurs.
Defibrillation is a technique to correct ventricular fibrillation, a condition marked by very rapid, disorganized twitching or trembling of the heart muscle in place of the normal rhythmic beat. Ventricular fibrillation produces a condition called cardiac arrest, in which no heartbeat, pulse, or blood pressure can be detected. Death or permanent brain damage follows within a few minutes unless this condition is corrected or unless first-aid measures maintain blood circulation and breathing until emergency medical treatment is available.
Causes of Fibrillation :
The most common cause of fibrillation is a heart attack. When this happens, certain parts of the heart will start contracting independently of the normal heartbeat. Other causes of fibrillation are severe electrical shock and prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.
Defibrillation Treatment :
An electrical device called a defibrillator is used to correct fibrillation. A pair of metal paddles are placed on the patient's chest, and a jolt of direct-current electricity from the defibrillator is directed into the heart to shock it back into its regular rhythm. The shock stops the independent action of individual muscle fibers and allows the natural pacemaker of the heart to take over again.
Once the normal heartbeat has been restored, a drug such as lidocaine is injected to prevent further fibrillation. An intravenous tube is inserted to administer sodium bicarbonate (to neutralize acids in the blood) and other medication. A breathing tube may be passed into the trachea (windpipe); it is attached to a mechanical pump that forces air in and out of the lungs. Then the patient is taken to a hospital cardiac intensive care unit, where monitoring devices constantly keep track of the patient's condition and sound an alarm if any sign of danger threatens.
Electrical defibrillation is also used to restart a heart that has been stopped for purposes of heart surgery.
In patients with severe heart disease and recurrent episodes of ventricular fibrillation, a defibrillator can be implanted under the skin and attached to the heart. The defibrillator internally shocks the heart when ventricular fibrillation occurs.
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