Ventricular fibrillation and defibrillation.
Cardiac arrest in children is not often due to a disturbance in rhythm that is amenable to electrical defibrillation, contrary to the situation in adults. When a shockable rhythm is present, defibrillation using an external electric shock applied at an early stage after pre-oxygenation and chest compressions is of proven efficacy. Success at conversion of ventricular fibrillation is dependent on the delay before delivering the shock and defibrillation efficiency, which is itself a function of thoracic impedance, energy dose and waveform.
Jones
P
P
SMUR Pédiatrique, Réanimation Polyvalente (Paediatric Intensive Care), Hôpital Robert Debré APHP, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75935 Paris Cedex 19, France. peter.jones@rdb.aphp.fr
Lodé
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D047548:Defibrillators / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*