"Tuned" defibrillation waveforms outperform 50/50% tilt defibrillation waveforms: a randomized multi-center study.
BACKGROUND
A superior performance of a tuned waveform based on duration using an assumed cardiac membrane time constant of 3.5 ms and of a 50/50% tilt waveform over a standard 65/65% tilt waveform has been documented before. However, there has been no direct comparison of the tuned versus the 50/50% tilt waveforms.


METHODS
In 34 patients, defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) for tuned versus 50/50% tilt waveforms in a random order were measured by using the optimized binary search method. High voltage lead impedance was measured and used to select the pulse widths for tuned and 50/50% tilt defibrillation waveforms.


RESULTS
Delivered energy (7.3 +/- 4.6 J vs 8.7 +/- 5.3 J, P = 0.01), stored energy (8.2 +/- 5.1 J vs 9.7 +/- 5.6 J, P = 0.01), and delivered voltage (405.9 +/- 121.7 V vs 445.0 +/- 122.6 V, P = 0.008) were significantly lower for the tuned than for the 50/50% tilt waveform. In four patients with DFT >/= 15 J, the tuned waveform lowered the mean energy DFT by 2.8 J and mean voltage DFT by 45 V. For all patients, the mean peak delivered energy DFT was reduced from 29 J to 22 J (24% decrease). Multiple regression analysis showed that a left ventricular ejection fraction < 20% is a significant predictor of this advantage.


CONCLUSIONS
Energy and voltage DFTs are lowered with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator that uses a tuned waveform compared to a standard 50% tilt biphasic waveform.
Natarajan
Senthil
S
Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, New York, USA. senthil-natarajan@hotmail.com
Henthorn
Richard
R
Burroughs
Jefferson
J
Esberg
Douglas
D
Zweibel
Steven
S
Ross
Terence
T
Kroll
Mark
M
Gianola
Don
D
Oza
Ashish
A
D000368:Aged; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000592:standards*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000628:therapy*