Use of External Electric Pacemaker in Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest presents a critical problem in four different types of clinical situations: (1) in Stokes-Adams disease; (2) during reflex vagal stimulation; (3) during treatment with cardioactive drugs; and (4) during various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, particularly during anesthesia. It requires emergency resuscitation for which the desperate and often ineffective measures of cardiac puncture, intracardiac drugs, and thoracotomy with cardiac massage have been the only therapy heretofore available.1We have developed a new therapeutic approach to the problem of cardiac arrest2: an externally applied cardiac pacemaker that stimulates the heart electrically, terminates ventricular standstill, and maintains an externally paced ventricular rhythm for as long as necessary. The electric stimulator functions like a natural intracardiac pacemaker but is under complete external control. The instrument is portable, easily applied, and clinically practicable. STOKES-ADAMS DISEASE Stokes-Adams disease consists of attacks of cerebral ischemia due to very slow idioventricular rates, ventricular standstill,