What is a
defibrillator?
A defibrillator is a device that is designed to pass electrical
current through a patient’s heart. The passing of electrical current
through the heart is called defibrillation. A defibrillation is done
through pads placed on the patient’s chest.
Why is defibrillation used?
A defibrillation is used to restore a patient’s heart rhythm to
normal. Abnormal heart rhythms may be treated with medications while
other rhythms need to be treated with defibrillation. Life
threatening heart rhythms need defibrillation immediately while
other heart rhythms may be defibrillated in a scheduled fashion.
Defibrillation may be done using the manual defibrillator or the
automatic external defibrillator (AED).
Does defibrillation hurt?
Patients needing emergent defibrillation are usually unconscious and
do not feel the defibrillation. Patients with abnormal but stable
heart rhythms needing defibrillation will receive sedation and pain
medication before the defibrillation is done. Patients usually have
no memory of the defibrillation.
Are there any potential complications
associated with use of a defibrillator?
The defibrillator pads may cause a skin irritation and leave a
temporary redden area where they contacted the chest. Unfortunately
defibrillation does not always return the patient’s heart rhythm
back to normal.
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Defibrillator
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Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) |
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ICU Medical Conditions 
