Q: can i order a defibrillator?

Yes: Yes , i bought one for my home from costco and they never asked if i was a doctor. This was a philips aed.

Q: how does a defibrillator work?

An ICD?: If you are referring to an implanted cardioverter defibrillator it works as follows: it detects fast heart beats above a threshold set by the cardiologist and programmed into the defibrillator and delivers a shock or ATP - pacemaker override, depending on the heart rate. It will deliver subsequent shocks depending on the heart rate it detects.

Q: how does a defibrillator function?

Defibirllator: The defibibrillator is a mini computer with a sensing circuit and a shock circuit. If the device senses a life threatening arrhythmia for a certain time period, then the device charges and will shock the patient out of the life threatening arrhythmia. The defibrillator is programmed by the electrophysiologist based on the studies done prior to implant and then after implant it is tested.

Q: would a nurse use a defibrillator?

Defibrillator: Nurses are trained to use a defibrillator in advanced CPR training. Some nurses may be less comfortable than others with using them if they don't generally deal in the area.

Q: how did the defibrillator get named?

What it does: A defibrillator provides an electrical current that is measured in joules (a measure of electrical energy). This electrical energy is used to "shock" the heart back into a normal rhythm from a terminal rhythm such as ventricular fibrillation. Thus the mechanism by which the device accomplished this is to "de" fibrillate a heart; hence defibrillator.

Question 1

what is a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

Device for the heart: A defibrillator uses electrical current to reset the rhythm of the heart when it is irregular and too rapid. They are used in cardiac arrest when the rhythm is ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia. They can be used to reset atrial fibrillation either emergently or electively as well. They can be external devices or can even be implanted in the body for patients at risk of arrhythmias.

Question 2

what type of defibrillator is a cardioverter-defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

All of them: All cardiac defibrillators are cardioverter-defibrillators.

Question 3

what is the difference between a defibrillator and a pacemaker?

Accepted Answer

What they do: Some pacemakers include defibrillators and some do not.  A "regular" pacemaker simply sets the heart rate or helps to control the rate at which the heart beats.  An implated defibrillator, usually is also a pacemaker, but constantly monitors the heart for dangerous heart rate types and delivers an eclectric shock to try and return the irregular heart rate to normal.

Question 4

what types of defibrillators are there?

Accepted Answer

Internal & external: Implantable (internal) defibrillators remain in the body, whereas external defibrillators are the boxes with paddles that you see on tv shows. They both shock the heart out of life-threatening cardiac arrest rhythm if need be. There are automated external units that lay people can use; you put paddles on person's chest and the machine determines the rhythm and speaks commands to give a shock.

Question 5

who needs a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

ICD - new guidelines: This is somewhat complex and will not all fit in 400 characters so I am creating initials. 1. Ischemic cardiomyopathy, i.C., with ejection fraction, ef, >30% but <35%, newyork heartassoc, nyha, class ii or iii, and >30 days post mi/revascularization. 2. Ic, ef <30%. 3. Ic, ef between 36-40% with inducible ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia, 4. Non-ic with ef <35% and nyha class ii or greater.

Question 6

can i order a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Yes , i bought one for my home from costco and they never asked if i was a doctor.  This was a philips aed.

Question 7

how does a defibrillator work?

Accepted Answer

An ICD?: If you are referring to an implanted cardioverter defibrillator it works as follows: it detects fast heart beats above a threshold set by the cardiologist and programmed into the defibrillator and delivers a shock or ATP - pacemaker override, depending on the heart rate. It will deliver subsequent shocks depending on the heart rate it detects.

Question 8

how does a defibrillator function?

Accepted Answer

Defibirllator: The defibibrillator is a mini computer with a sensing circuit and a shock circuit. If the device senses a life threatening arrhythmia for a certain time period, then the device charges and will shock the patient out of the life threatening arrhythmia. The defibrillator is programmed by the electrophysiologist  based on the studies done prior to implant and then after implant it is tested.

Question 9

would a nurse use a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

Defibrillator: Nurses are trained to use a defibrillator in advanced CPR training. Some nurses may be less comfortable than others with using them if they don't generally deal in the area.

Question 10

how did the defibrillator get named?

Accepted Answer

What it does: A defibrillator provides an electrical current that is measured in joules (a measure of electrical energy). This electrical energy is used to "shock" the heart back into a normal rhythm from a terminal rhythm such as ventricular fibrillation. Thus the mechanism by which the device accomplished this is to "de" fibrillate a heart; hence defibrillator.

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What is a defibrillator

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What is a defibrillator?

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What types of defibrillators are there?

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Who needs a defibrillator?

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Can i order a defibrillator?

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How does a defibrillator work?

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How does a defibrillator function?

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Would a nurse use a defibrillator?

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How did the defibrillator get named?

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