defibrated

Defibrated is the past participle adjective describing something that has undergone defibrillation, most commonly referring to the heart having been treated with an electric shock to stop life-threatening arrhythmias. In clinical use, a defibrillation shock delivers a controlled electrical current intended to depolarize a critical mass of myocardial cells, interrupt disordered electrical activity, and allow the normal sinus rhythm to reestablish.

Defibrillation can be performed externally or internally. External defibrillation uses pads or paddles placed on the chest (anterior–posterior or dual-pad configuration). Shocks may be delivered unsynchronized for pulseless ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia; synchronized shocks are reserved for certain stable tachyarrhythmias. Modern devices use biphasic waveforms and typically deliver energies in the range of 120–200 joules for external biphasic shocks, with higher settings for monophasic equipment historically.

Internal defibrillation is achieved with implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) or transvenous systems. ICDs continuously monitor the heart and automatically deliver shocks or initiate rapid pacing to terminate dangerous arrhythmias, sometimes in response to patient symptoms.

Defibrillation is a key component of advanced cardiac life support and emergency response. Its effectiveness depends on rapid initiation, often alongside high-quality CPR, rapid defibrillator access, and post-resuscitation care. Potential risks include skin irritation, myocardial injury, and damage from chest compressions or subsequent repeated shocks.

As a term, defibrated is used mainly in medical contexts; it denotes that defibrillation has been performed.