Ventricular fibrillation and defibrillation

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.

Sudden cardiac death in children and young adults without structural heart disease: a comprehensive review

“…Unlike in adults where the primary cause of SCD is mostly related to ischemic heart disease, the etiology is diverse in young SCD victims and includes cardiomyopathies, congenital arrhythmia syndromes, myocarditis, myocardial ischemia due to coronary anomalies, advanced heart failure, and following cardiac surgery (de Noronha et al, 2009;Harmon et al, 2014a;Maron, 2003;Meyer et al, 2012;Morentin et al, 2000;Papadakis et al, 2013;Wren, 2002). The primary cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is thought to be polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VF) (Berger et al, 2004;Jones and Lode, 2007;Mogayzel et al, 1995), but the underlying mechanism that initiates these catastrophic cardiac rhythm disturbances is not always clear. Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) is defined as unexplained sudden death with no identifiable pathologic change in the heart by autopsy (Basso et al, 2010;Corrado et al, 2001;Mellor et al, 2014;Papadakis et al, 2013).…”

Sudden cardiac death in children and young adults without structural heart disease: a comprehensive review

“…Unlike in adults where the primary cause of SCD is mostly related to ischemic heart disease, the etiology is diverse in young SCD victims and includes cardiomyopathies, congenital arrhythmia syndromes, myocarditis, myocardial ischemia due to coronary anomalies, advanced heart failure, and following cardiac surgery (de Noronha et al, 2009;Harmon et al, 2014a;Maron, 2003;Meyer et al, 2012;Morentin et al, 2000;Papadakis et al, 2013;Wren, 2002). The primary cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is thought to be polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VF) (Berger et al, 2004;Jones and Lode, 2007;Mogayzel et al, 1995), but the underlying mechanism that initiates these catastrophic cardiac rhythm disturbances is not always clear. Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) is defined as unexplained sudden death with no identifiable pathologic change in the heart by autopsy (Basso et al, 2010;Corrado et al, 2001;Mellor et al, 2014;Papadakis et al, 2013).…”

Sudden cardiac death in children and young adults without structural heart disease: a comprehensive review

“…Unlike in adults where the primary cause of SCD is mostly related to ischemic heart disease, the etiology is diverse in young SCD victims and includes cardiomyopathies, congenital arrhythmia syndromes, myocarditis, myocardial ischemia due to coronary anomalies, advanced heart failure, and following cardiac surgery (de Noronha et al, 2009;Harmon et al, 2014a;Maron, 2003;Meyer et al, 2012;Morentin et al, 2000;Papadakis et al, 2013;Wren, 2002). The primary cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is thought to be polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VF) (Berger et al, 2004;Jones and Lode, 2007;Mogayzel et al, 1995), but the underlying mechanism that initiates these catastrophic cardiac rhythm disturbances is not always clear. Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) is defined as unexplained sudden death with no identifiable pathologic change in the heart by autopsy (Basso et al, 2010;Corrado et al, 2001;Mellor et al, 2014;Papadakis et al, 2013).…”

Sudden cardiac death in children and young adults without structural heart disease: a comprehensive review

“…Unlike in adults where the primary cause of SCD is mostly related to ischemic heart disease, the etiology is diverse in young SCD victims and includes cardiomyopathies, congenital arrhythmia syndromes, myocarditis, myocardial ischemia due to coronary anomalies, advanced heart failure, and following cardiac surgery (de Noronha et al, 2009;Harmon et al, 2014a;Maron, 2003;Meyer et al, 2012;Morentin et al, 2000;Papadakis et al, 2013;Wren, 2002). The primary cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is thought to be polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VF) (Berger et al, 2004;Jones and Lode, 2007;Mogayzel et al, 1995), but the underlying mechanism that initiates these catastrophic cardiac rhythm disturbances is not always clear. Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) is defined as unexplained sudden death with no identifiable pathologic change in the heart by autopsy (Basso et al, 2010;Corrado et al, 2001;Mellor et al, 2014;Papadakis et al, 2013).…”