The importance of the electrode system for the success of intracardiac defibrillation.
An experimental study was designed to assess the effect of intracardiac defibrillation in 15 dogs, in whom a total of 25 episodes of ventricular fibrillation were induced. Defibrillation using a Medtronic electrode catheter (model 6880), with the discharge passing between the right ventricle and atrium turned out to be of little effect even though energy discharges of 25 J were used. Discharges between an electrode placed in the right ventricle and another one placed on the thoracic left wall, with the discharge passing through the left ventricle, were more successful. While this arrangement terminated half of ventricular fibrillation episodes, its results are not sufficiently convincing for widespread clinical use. Histology documented significant myocardial damage even when intracardiac energy discharges with energy not exceeding 25 J were used.
Bytesník
J
J
Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Vrána
M
M
Fabián
J
J
Urbanová
D
D
Blazek
Z
Z
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*