AAAKKKK!!!! The paramedic in me wants to go crazy shocking those with bad information.
So, manual defibs are what is used in the game. They are used to correct a number of heart problems, but the shock that you see on TV and in the game is MAINLY used to treat one problem: ventricular fibrillation. There are two major brands of manual defibs right now, Zoll and Medtronics. This is what they look like:
This is a Lifepak 12, by medtronics. It is the most popular unit in production. In the states, you will find at least one of these in every Emergency Department and every Operating Room. It is a biphasic unit (way too much science for you all), capable of monitoring a 12 lead EKG, blood oxygen saturation, noninvasive blood pressure, end-tial CO2 monitoring for intubated patients, and will even communicate with your computer via bluetooth.
These units are manufactured by Zoll. There are two major models, the E model, and the M model. The E model is what I carry on the ambulance everyday, and it is awesome. The M model is used by the ED and Surgical Services in my hospital, and is similar in function to the E, just with more bells and whistles.
So, onto the paddles. There are 4 major types of paddles that we use. Manual paddles, the sticky ones mentioned, pediatric paddles, and internal paddles. Manual paddles look like this:
They have a button on each that you press when everyone is clear of the body, sending an electric current between the two and *hopefully* restarting the heart to a normal (sinus) rhythm.
Sticky paddles are used on a patient that is unstable and continues to go into vfib, and look just like the ones that go with an AED. They have the advantage of the user not having to bend over the patient every time. They look like this:
Pediatric paddles are smaller than normal adult paddles. Normally, they just slip on over standard paddles. They look like this:
The last kind is internal paddles. They are for when the heart is exposed, as it open to the air. These paddles look like this:
Any questions? Fire away.
Last edited by blisteringsilence (2006-01-21 02:48:54)
