What is a Defibrillator?
by Thomas Morva
zone3
A cardiac or heart defibrillator is a device that delivers an
electric shock or pulse to the heart in order to alleviate certain
disturbances or failures. Typically the goal is to change a
fibrillation, or rapid and irregular rhythm, into a slower and steadier
beat that can be managed by a care provider.
The shock comes from an electric current that is channeled through the
patient’s chest via electrodes or paddles. The current causes the
heart muscle to contract, hopefully jolting it back to a more natural
pace.
When a person is experiencing cardiac arrest, the most common cause is
ventricular fibrillation. Here, the ventricles are contracting in a
chaotic fashion that causes the heart to stop pumping sufficient
blood. The other form of fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, is more
common and much less deadly. It is a disorder found in approximately
two million Americans and causes the small upper chambers of the heart, or
atria, to quiver rather than beat steadily. Though this isn’t
normally a life-threatening condition, atrial fibrillation can cause blood
to pool and clot. If this clot becomes lodged in the brain or
artery, a stroke can result.
In years past, the image of a cardiac defibrillator has been that of a
last resort, life saving measure undertaken in an emergency room by
doctors or surgeons. Although this is still often the setting in
which they are used, recent years have seen heart defibrillators become
increasing common in the general public for life saving measures.
Specifically, the automated external defibrillator has become a fixture
in places such as airports, casinos and various sports arenas. When
using the automated external defibrillator, the machine automatically
determines whether a shock is needed and selects the appropriate level of
energy. Therefore they are an effective tool for those not in the
medical field who wish to keep a defibrillator on hand is case of a sudden
cardiac attack.
Heart defibrillators have even become common in the home as a method of
saving lives. Studies have shown that the vast majority of heart
attacks or cardiac arrests occur within the home, but until recently the
defibrillator was too bulky and cumbersome an apparatus to keep
there. Now with portable cardiac defibrillators, family members have
more methods for saving the life of a loved one than simple CPR.
The American Heart Association has sought to continue broadening access
to and education on the use of cardiac defibrillators in hopes of helping
regular citizens save the lives of victims of cardiac arrest when
professional medical attention is unavailable. Though some experts
have expressed concern over possible misuse or over-reliance on portable
or automated defibrillators, it can surely be said that any device that
promotes education and readiness for life saving measures among the
general public can only be a good thing.
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