title: Automatic external defibrillators.
abstract: Early electrical therapy for patients with ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia can result in a significant increase of lives saved from sudden cardiac death. Rapid defibrillation has become a goal of prehospital and emergency department cardiac care, and the use of automatic external defibrillators can aid in reaching this objective. The history, mechanics, and implications of automatic external defibrillators are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan 48072.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bocka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation