title: Automated external defibrillation in cardiac surgery.
abstract: Revision open heart surgery may be impeded by a dense network of pericardial adhesions rendering cardiac mobilization laborious or incomplete, and internal defibrillation impossible. External defibrillation, the current alternative to internal defibrillation, may result in myocardial stunning secondary to the delivery of escalating, monophasic, high-energy shocks. Automated external defibrillation, by delivering consecutive, non-escalating, impedance-compensated, low-energy, biphasic electric shocks to the myocardium, may provide a more effective and safer option whilst reducing the risk of myocardial stunning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, St. Mary's Hospital, 4th Floor QEQM Wing, Praed Street, Paddington, London W2 1NY, UK. akotow@aol.com
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Knaggs
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Delis
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Spearpoint
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zideman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D017694:Rewarming / Q000009:adverse effects; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*