Survival to hospital discharge higher with use of double sequential external defibrillation compared with standard defibrillation<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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WEDNESDAY, Nov. 9, 2022 (HealthDay News) — For patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, use of double sequential external defibrillation (DSED) or vector-change (VC) defibrillation results in better survival to hospital discharge compared with standard defibrillation, according to a study published online Nov. 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine<\/em> to coincide with the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2022, held from Nov. 5 to 7 in Chicago.<\/p>\n Sheldon Cheskes, M.D., from the University of Toronto, and colleagues conducted a cluster-randomized trial among six Canadian paramedic services to assess DSED and VC defibrillation compared to standard defibrillation in adults with refractory ventricular fibrillation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Data were included for 405 patients: 136, 144, and 125 were randomly assigned to receive standard defibrillation, VC defibrillation, and DSED, respectively. The data and safety monitoring board stopped the trial due to the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n The researchers found that compared with the standard group, survival to hospital discharge was more common in the DSED and VC groups (30.4 and 21.7 percent, respectively, versus 13.3 percent; relative risks [95 percent confidence intervals], 2.21 [1.33 to 3.67] and 1.71 [1.01 to 2.88], respectively). A higher percentage of patients had a good neurologic outcome with DSED but not VC defibrillation compared with standard defibrillation (relative risks [95 percent confidence intervals], 2.21 [1.26 to 3.88] and 1.48 [0.81 to 2.71], respectively).<\/p>\n “Although the outcomes favored DSED, the logistics of having a second defibrillator available may be a challenge in some paramedic services,” the authors write.<\/p>\n One author disclosed financial ties to ZOLL Medical.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n