Question

1.Cardioversion versus defibrillation -indications and differences

2. External pacing - how is it done, what are the indications

3. CPR and rescue breathing - what are the indications and techniques

Answer 1

Ans.1.) Cardioversion is used to regulate an abnormal heart rate that happens in atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. In such conditions, the heart rate exceeds 100 bpm and is quite uneven. The condition can be intermittent but it points out an underlying heart condition such as hypertension, cardiomyopathy etc. Whereas, defibrillation is an emergency resuscitative process in which therapeutic doses of high energy electrical shocks are given to patients to reinstate heart beat in cardiac arrest or pulse-less ventricular tachycardia.

2.) External pacing is a provisional means of pacing a patient's heart during a medical emergency. It is not same as that of defibrillation. In external pacing an electrical pulse of current is delivered in the patient's chest, which stimulates the heart to contract.

3.) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency process that combines chest compressions frequently with artificial ventilation in an attempt to manually maintain intact brain function until any other measures are taken to reinstate natural blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.