Minimally invasive direct cardiac massage and defibrillation.
Direct massage of the heart may be performed using a specifically designed device inserted via a limited thoracic incision. The technique is simple to perform and has been shown in experimental studies to be physiologically similar to formal open-chest cardiac massage. Preliminary human studies have been encouraging and pre-hospital and in-hospital studies are in progress. Modification of the device allows combined epicardial-transthoracic defibrillation. Energy requirements for successful defibrillation using this method are considerably lower than standard external defibrillation.
Eynon
C A
CA
Department of Accident and Emergency, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
D000818:Animals; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006336:Heart Massage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods