Key result
Double sequential defibrillation successfully achieved return of spontaneous circulation in a patient with refractory ventricular fibrillation after seven failed standard defibrillation attempts.
Why the study?
Does double sequential defibrillation improve return of spontaneous circulation in a patient with refractory ventricular fibrillation?
Case Report (n=1)
Does double sequential defibrillation improve return of spontaneous circulation in a patient with refractory ventricular fibrillation?
Double sequential defibrillation may serve as an effective rescue strategy for patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
May support dual-defibrillator use in refractory VF after chest trauma; hypothesis-generating, requires prospective validation.
A 40-year-old male struck his chest against a pole during a basketball game and had sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. After bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, fire and emergency medical services personnel provided six defibrillation attempts prior to emergency department arrival. A 7th attempt in the emergency department using a different vector was unsuccessful. On the 8th attempt, using a second defibrillator with defibrillator pads placed adjacent to the primary set of defibrillator pads, two shocks were administered in near simultaneous fashion. The double sequential defibrillation was successful and the patient had return of spontaneous circulation at the next pulse check. He recovered in the intensive care unit, was discharged home 1 month later, and continues to follow up in clinic over 1 year later with a Cerebral Performance Category score of 1 (short-term memory deficits).
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Lybeck et al. (2015) conducted a case report in Refractory ventricular fibrillation and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (n=1). Double sequential defibrillation was evaluated on Return of spontaneous circulation. Double sequential defibrillation successfully achieved return of spontaneous circulation in a patient with refractory ventricular fibrillation after seven failed standard defibrillation attempts.
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