title: [Semi-automatic defibrillators does not always interpret heart rhythms correctly. Five patients were defibrillated despite non-shockable rhythms].
abstract: Automated external defibrillators (AED) have become an important part of the »the chain of survival« in case of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), where early defibrillation is lifesaving. The American Heart Association demands that AEDs have a specificity of >99 % to recognize normal sinus rhythm and >95 % for the other non-shockable rhythms. Reports on their performance in the field are scarce. We present five cases in which AED recommended shock for apparently non-shockable rhythms. This indicates the necessity to systematically reevaluate AED performance.
authors.affiliation: Länssjukhuset - Medicin/kardiologi Kalmar, Sweden Länssjukhuset - Medicin/kardiologi Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Burkard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wangenheim
authors.affiliation: Länssjukhuset - Medicin/kardiologi Kalmar, Sweden Länssjukhuset - Medicin/kardiologi Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Israelsson
authors.affiliation: Ruhr Universität - Kardiologie Bochum, Germany Ruhr Universität - Kardiologie Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindstaedt
authors.affiliation: Länssjukhuset - Medicin/kardiologi Kalmar, Sweden Länssjukhuset - Medicin/kardiologi Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carlsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D047548:Defibrillators / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged