Defibrillation is a common treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias , ventricular fibrillation , and pulseless ventricular tachycardia . Defibrillation consists of delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected heart with a device called a defibrillator . This depolarizes a critical mass of the heart muscle, terminates the arrhythmia, and allows normal sinus rhythm to be reestablished by the body s natural pacemaker , in the sinoatrial node of the heart. Defibrillators can be external, transvenous, or implanted, depending on the type of device used or needed. Some external units, known as automated external defibrillators (AEDs), automate the diagnosis of treatable rhythms, meaning that lay responders or bystanders are able to use them successfully with little, or in some cases no training at all.
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Premium Questions (5)
my husband has a pacemaker defibrilator with the pacemaker set at 70. He's had this unit several years He has a-fib, and mitral valve leakage. The pacemaker has run the heart around 70 for most of the years, with testing saying the heart is...
I had a defibrillator put in 2 yrs ago after a TIA Nothing has ever happened since then Should I have it removed I had a defibrilllator put in 2yrs ago after a TIA as they found my heart beating too slow. I ve gone thru all the monthly checks and...
my friend recently had a c-section.Immediately after birth she went into cariac arrest and had no pulse. She was intubated by the anesthesiologist and a code was called. A defibrillator was brought in and she was...
Hi I'm a 60 year old female and have episodes of ventricular tachycardia, cardiomyopathy, arrythmias and an implanted defibrillator along with diabetes II and high blood pressure. Would I qualify for social security benefits?
My father fell and is having severe angina around defibrillator and shortness of breath. No swelling around defibrillator. We gave him aspirin and he is lying down on his back. What else can we do?
We elevated his...
Online Doctor Chat (3) - Defibrillation
User : My husband and I are flying to CA from .. tomorrow. I am very nervous because he has a defibrillator and takes coumidin and 6 other cardiac meds. He has shown a couple v tachs in the past,when his defib was checked. His cardiologist gave us...
User : My heart is only pumping at 20% ive been told , how bad is that and is there an alternative to a defibrillator?
Doctor : Hello.
Doctor : Give me your age and gender?
User : 57 male
Doctor : Ok.
Doctor : Do you have any present...
User : My Defibrillator made a tune this morning, do I have any concerns?
Doctor : Hi
Doctor : may i know your age ?
User : 59
Doctor : Do u have any symptoms or discomfort currrently ?
User : no
Doctor : How long have you been on the...
Public Forum (30) - Defibrillation
1 Answer
I had a defibrillator put in 2 yrs ago after a TIA Nothing has ever happened since then Should I have it removed I had a defibrilllator put in 2yrs ago after a TIA as they found my heart beating too slow. I ve gone thru all the monthly checks and never once had a sense of this kicking in. Maybe the doctors were too fast to put it in. Should I...
1 Answer
I have just had a defibrillator surgery and my manual doesn t say anything? about being able to use a computer, I m sure it s about the brand you have, or maybe I need to contact the company, I just feel funny after using it. The company is medtronic. thanks in advance for all the good answers!
1 Answer
My mother had a pacemaker in 2 months ago and within the last month I have noticed swelling in her feet and? ankles can a pace maker cause this problem. She has a very diffuclt time in walking
2 Answers
I had an AICD implanted 2 years ago and recently have been getting cramps and severe pain under the defibrillator. Is this normal and is there anything I can do to help with the pain. I m afraid that it is going to shock me!
3 Answers
When you have a defibrillator inserted, can you see it through your skin? My dad s getting one next week and he s afraid he ll look weird it it pokes out.
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I was diagnosed with HCM a couple of years ago and also had a stent put in in 2011 as well as a defib in late 2012. I m taking effient 10, verapamil 240, otorvastatin 10. The defib was implanted due to VT and Bradyc s. After the defib was implanted doc wanted to start me on metoprolol , but I m having side effects that make functioning...
1 Answer
A person wearing a heart defibrillator can they fly on a plane ? A person wearing a heart defibrillator can they fly on a plane?
2 Answers
Is it legal to place a magnet over a defibrillator to cause it to malfunction in order to cause death?? This was done to my father and i am trying to find out if in fact it was legal. It was not that i know of, ordered by a physician. It did in fact cause my fathers death. This was done by my sister, she is an RN. She, along with another nurse...
1 Answer
Has anyone had or known someone who had defibrilator put on their heart? My father is having this done and had a terrible time the last time he had surgery . Is it painful? Is it under general anesthesia? If it actual shocks you, can you still function during it? What if he is driving? Any info would be great, thanks in advance.
1 Answer
What happens if a defibrillator pad is placed directly over a pacemaker My husband had a heart transplant some 23 years ago and recently underwent cardioversion when the defibrillator pad was placed directly over the pacemaker site. Could someone please let m know what could have been the outcome of this. As it was my husband suffered total...
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