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2.1 EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATION
2.1.1 GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PROFESSIONAL USER
A direct current defibrillator applies a brief, intense pulse of electricity to the heart muscle. The RESCUE
LIFE 9 defibrillator delivers this energy through STANDARD ELECTRODES or DISPOSABLE ELECTRODES
applied to the patient's chest.
Successful resuscitation is associated to the length of time between the onset of a heart rhythm that does
not circulate blood (ventricular fibrillation, pulseless ventricular tachycardia) and defibrillation. The
American Heart Association (AHA) has identified the following as critical links in the chain of survival from
cardiac arrest:
1. Early access
2. Early CPR by first responders or bystanders
3. Early defibrillation
4. Early advanced life support (ALS)
Depending on the situation, other supportive measures may include:
1. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
2. Administration of supplemental oxygen
3. Drug therapy
The physical state of the patient may affect the likelihood of successful defibrillation. Thus, failure to
resuscitate a patient is not a reliable indicator of defibrillator performance. Patients will often exhibit a
muscular reaction (like a jump or a twitch) during an energy transfer. The absence of such a response is not
a reliable indicator of actual energy delivery or device performance.
For further information, refer to the booklet, Defibrillation: What You Should Know.
2.1.2 INDICATIONS
Defibrillation is a recognized means of terminating certain potentially fatal arrhythmias, like a ventricular
fibrillation and symptomatic ventricular tachycardia. Delivery of this energy in the synchronized way is a
method for treating atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and, in
relatively stable patients, ventricular tachycardia.
The biphasic defibrillation waveform used in this device has only been clinically tested on adults; it has not
been tested on pediatric patients.
9
Rescue Life
– Instruction For Use
2 - THERAPY
2-2
Rev.0.5 – 30/03/2022
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