Simultaneous Use of Two Defibrillators for the Conversion of Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation

Abstract

T?>HE SIMULTANEOUS use of two defibrillators to deliver higher energy levels for the treatment of refractory arrhythmias is currently not a component of standard advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) guidelines. 1 Field J.M. Hazinski M.F. Sayre M.R. et al. Part 1: Executive summary: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2010; 122: S640-S656 Crossref PubMed Scopus (773) Google Scholar As a result, it is an underappreciated and underutilized therapy, despite case reports and series demonstrating its efficacy and safety in refractory atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. 2 Bjerregaard P. El-Shafei A. Janosik D.L. et al. Double external direct-current shocks for refractory atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol. 1999; 83 (A10): 972-974 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (34) Google Scholar , 3 Chang A.K. Lent G.S. Grinberg D. Double-dose external cardioversion for refractory unstable atrial fibrillation in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2008; 26 (e1-e3): 385 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (6) Google Scholar , 4 Hoch D.H. Batsford W.P. Greenberg S.M. et al. Double sequential external shocks for refractory ventricular fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1994; 23: 1141-1145 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (59) Google Scholar , 5 Kabukcu M. Demircioglu F. Yanik E. et al. Simultaneous double external DC shock technique for refractory atrial fibrillation in concomitant heart disease. Jpn Heart J. 2004; 45: 929-936 Crossref PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar , 6 Marrouche N.F. Bardy G.H. Frielitz H.J. et al. Quadruple pads approach for external cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2001; 24: 1321-1324 Crossref PubMed Scopus (25) Google Scholar , 7 Saliba W. Juratli N. Chung M.K. et al. Higher energy synchronized external direct current cardioversion for refractory atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999; 34: 2031-2034 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (60) Google Scholar This brief report describes the utility of double-dose defibrillation in refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF) and further publicizes its efficacy. Erratum to “Simultaneous Use of Two Defibrillators for the Conversion of Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation” J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 29(2015):369-378Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular AnesthesiaVol. 29Issue 4PreviewIt was discovered that the original online version of the above article contained errors that were not the fault of the author(s). The Publisher decided to ‘resupply’ (repost and replace) the XML and online PDF of the article. Unfortunately the discovery of the errors was too late to correct the printed issue. Full-Text PDF