Energy doses for treatment of out-of-hospital pediatric ventricular fibrillation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the energy dose used to treat out-of-hospital pediatric ventricular fibrillation and the survival rates of these patients.


METHODS
We reviewed three emergency medical systems (EMS) for their reports of patients under 1 month to 18 years who received shocks for ventricular fibrillation to determine the energy of each shock as well as other patient and care characteristics. Each patient's weight was estimated at the age-appropriate 50th and 95th percentiles. Patients were then grouped as receiving recommended energy doses (2 to < or = 4 J/kg), moderately high energy doses (> 4-6 J/kg), and high energy doses (> 6 J/kg).


RESULTS
Of 57 patients identified, 54% were male, with a mean age of 11 years, range 2 months to 17 years. Ventricular fibrillation was the initial rhythm in 80% (43/54) of patients. The mean number of shocks delivered was 3, with < or = 2 shocks delivered to 28 (49%) and > or = 5 shocks delivered to 10 (18%) patients. When evaluating all 185 shocks using the 50th percentile estimated weight, 45 (24%) shocks were at recommended doses, 56 (30%) were at moderately high energy doses, and 84 (45%) were high energy doses. Elevated energy dose was associated with an increasing number of shocks and lack of bystander CPR (p < .05). Nineteen (33%) patients survived to hospital discharge having received total doses up to 73 J/kg. Energy dose was not related to survival.


CONCLUSIONS
In this observational, multicenter out of hospital experience, children received a wide range of defibrillation doses, often exceeding recommended doses and equivalent to adult energy levels. Survival occurred at low and very high energy doses.
Rossano
Joseph W
JW
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Quan
Linda
L
Kenney
Melanie A
MA
Rea
Thomas D
TD
Atkins
Dianne L
DL
D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D047548:Defibrillators; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*