defibrillate

Defibrillate is a medical procedure used to treat life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. These conditions occur when the heart's electrical activity becomes chaotic, preventing it from pumping blood effectively. The primary goal of defibrillation is to stop this chaotic electrical activity and allow the heart's natural pacemaker to resume control, ideally restoring a normal heart rhythm.

The procedure involves delivering a controlled electric shock to the heart through electrodes placed on the chest. This electrical current depolarizes a critical mass of the heart muscle simultaneously, interrupting the abnormal rhythm. After the shock, the heart has a brief period of electrical silence, during which a normal sinus rhythm may re-establish.

Defibrillation can be performed using an automated external defibrillator (AED) or a manual defibrillator. AEDs are designed for use by laypeople and provide voice prompts to guide the rescuer. Manual defibrillators are used by trained medical professionals and allow for more control over the energy delivered and timing of the shock.

Early defibrillation is crucial for survival from sudden cardiac arrest. The chances of survival decrease significantly with each passing minute without treatment. Therefore, prompt recognition of cardiac arrest and immediate initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) alongside defibrillation are vital components of emergency cardiac care.