Predicting defibrillation success

Abstract

Recent results question the ventricular fibrillation feature analysis as a reliable tool to estimate the duration of human cardiac arrest. Animal and clinical studies confirmed that ventricular fibrillation waveform analysis contains information to reliably predict the countershock success rate and further improved countershock outcome prediction. Prospective clinical studies are highly warranted to demonstrate that ventricular fibrillation waveform analysis definitely improves survival after cardiac arrest.

Characteristics of ventricular fibrillation in relation to cardiac aetiology and shock success: A waveform analysis study in ICD-patients

“…Characteristics of the VF waveform have also been associated with defibrillation success 2,3,4 . This relation is (partly) driven by arrest duration, as was shown in a study in animals that reported that an independent association between VF characteristics and shock success could only be demonstrated if VF duration was not included in the multivariate model 6 .…”

“…With delivery of chest compressions shock success may be improved, and the coarseness of the VF waveform seems to increase concurrently 7,8 . In view of these findings, VF waveform characteristics have been regarded as markers of myocardial readiness for successful defibrillation, and have been studied to guide shock delivery 2,8 . However, retrospective studies in humans on the predictive value of VF analysis for shock success showed variable results 2,3 .…”

“…The success of defibrillations has been related to the characteristics of the VF waveform on the electrocardiogram (ECG) 2,3,4 .…”

Cardioversion and Defibrillation

“…11 Human studies indicate that the rate indicated for the termination of rapid, irregular polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. 11 Human studies indicate that the rate indicated for the termination of rapid, irregular polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and pulseless ventricular tachycardia.…”

Ventricular fibrillation waveform characteristics of the surface ECG: Impact of the left ventricular diameter and mass

“…Over the years, various initiatives have been taken to improve outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) [1,2]. For patients with ventricular fibrillation (VF), one of the proposed strategies involves guidance of chest compressions and shock deliveries based on analysis of the VF waveform [2][3][4][5].…”