en

Fighting cardiac arrest: Automated external defibrillator Kumar V, Adhikari KM, Singh YD Abstract Ventricular tachyarrhythmias - Ventricular fibrillation (VF) and Ventricular tachycardia (VT) account for most of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests. Defibrillation is the specific therapy for VF/pulseless VT. Time to defibrillation is the most important determinant of survival from these cardiac arrests. Automated external defibrillator (AED) has largely replaced the conventional defibrillator in Basic life support (BLS) programmes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. AED use by trained laypersons in the community as part of Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) programmes has significantly reduced time to defibrillation and increased survival. AED is now being stipulated for home use in people at high risk of sudden cardiac death. AED placement is also recommended in all areas of hospital. Physicians and Intesivists should strive to familiarize the medical fraternity in our country with AED use so that PAD programmes can be launched in the near future. Keywords Cardiac arrest, Defibrillation, Automated External Defibrillator, Public access defibrillation.

© Copyright 2003 Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine. Online full text also at http://www.ijccm.org/article.asp?issn=0972-5229;year=2003;volume=7;issue=4;spage=242;epage=249;aulast=Kumar
Alternative site location: http://www.ijccm.org/