Question 1

why don't doctors defibrillate a patient for longer?

Accepted Answer

Defibrillate: Not sure what you mean by your question. Electrical defibrillation takes a fraction of a second to deliver. To increase the time the defibrillation stimulus is delivered would just burn the heart and tissues. Are you asking something else, like why don't we do it ten or twenty times if it doesn't work once or twice?

Question 2

on which part of the chest should the conduct of the gel for defibrillate placed on?

Accepted Answer

R upper & L lower: If using the chest only, you want to create an imaginary pathway between pads that captures the heart--so one right upper chest (below clavicle) other l lower/lateral chest on rib cage. Can also use front-to-back approach, but have to be able to lift/roll patient to get pad between shoulder blades & other over l chest. Clear!

Question 3

can you defibrillate any patient in ventricular tachycardia?

Accepted Answer

Yes : Yes but only when the tachycardia is fast and not tolerated . But the electric current has to be synchronized with the heart beat.This is most appropriately called cardioversion than defibrillation  the latter being unsynchronized electric shock for ventricular fibrillation which is a chaotic ineffective rhythm.

Question 4

who can have cardioversion?

Accepted Answer

Almost anyone: If there is any compromise in bp, consciousness, breathing, anyone can be cardioverted.  If more chronic, then making sure there is a low probability of a clot inside the heart (that could be disrupted and cause an embolic event), sorting the need for prophylactic blood thinning to avoid a clot, making sure the atria (upper heart chambers) are not too large (reduced success) help select patients.

Question 5

how long is a cardioversion?

Accepted Answer

Less than 30 minutes: Sedation is given to the patient and an electrical shock is then given to cardiovert the heart back into a regular rhythym.This procedure usually is quite guick lasting in total 30 minutes or less. Delivery of the shock takes 2 seconds and then waiting to see if the rhythym has converted from one shock or reguires several more takes time. Time is then needed for the patient to be fully awake.

Question 6

what is a sync cardioversion?

Accepted Answer

Shock synchronized: The electric shock is synchronized to the heart beat to avoid shocking at the wrong time in the cycle which could make problems worse.

Question 7

how risky is a cardioversion?

Accepted Answer

Low Risk: This is a very low risk procedure if proceeded by a tee, transesophogael echocardiogram.

Question 8

can cardioversion result in death?

Accepted Answer

Yes: There are complications of cardioversion such as stroke or rhythm problems that rarely could result in death.

Question 9

what is synchronized cardioversion?

Accepted Answer

QRS: I think you mean 'synchronous'. Synchronous cardioversion is when the shock is delivered on the qrs portion of the heart cycle - it is when the heart depolarises.

Question 10

cardioversion wont work on me. why?

Accepted Answer

Cardioversoin: Electrical cardioversion doesn't work in every situation and for instance atrial fibrillation with a very large left atrium is very difficult to cardiovert. Depends on what your situation is...

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Why don't doctors defibrillate a patient for longer?

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Can you defibrillate any patient in ventricular tachycardia?

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Who can have cardioversion?

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What is a sync cardioversion?

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Cardioversion wont work on me. why?

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