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. 1977 Nov 26;2(6099):1379–1381. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6099.1379

Transthoracic ventricular defibrillation in adults.

N P Campbell, S W Webb, A A Adgey, J F Pantridge
PMCID: PMC1632384  PMID: 589223

Abstract

A prospective study of the energy required for transthoracic ventricular defibrillation in adults showed that in 42 (81%) out of 52 episodes of ventricular fibrillation shocks of 100 watt-seconds (Ws) of stored energy were successful. Out of 233 episodes, 222 (95%) were converted by 200 W s shocks. Among patients in whom primary ventricular fibrillation occurred within one hour of the onset of acute myocardial infarction, 200 W s shocks were successful in 40 (98%) out of 41 episodes. When low-energy shocks failed, a stored energy of 400 W s invariably succeeded. The need for large and expensive defibrillators that store more than 400 W s and are less readily available is therefore questioned.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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