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A member asked:
If someone's heart stops due to damage from a virus attacking the heart, or like lupus can a defibrillator get the heart started again ?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
Depends on "stop": There is a misunderstanding about when a defibrillator works. Defibrillators work when there is erratic electrical activity in the heart (ventricular arrhythmia). The shock delivered actually stops the heart, then intrinsic electrical activity in the heart restarts it. If the heart is stopped already, the shock doesn't help. Having said that, regardless of cause, they work in the right situation.
Answered 11/9/2012
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