Elsevier

Resuscitation

Volume 67, Issue 1, October 2005, Pages 135-137
Resuscitation

Case report
First appropriate use of automated external defibrillator in an infant

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2005.05.003Get rights and content

Abstract

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are currently not recommended for use in children under 1 year of age. We report the first description of successful AED defibrillation in an infant using a 50 J shock and provide rationale for employing these life-saving devices in infants at risk for sudden cardiac death.

Section snippets

Case report

This previously healthy female infant was 11 weeks old at the time of her initial cardiac arrest, which required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by her parents and paramedics. After two unsuccessful direct-current (DC) countershocks in the field, the infant arrived at a local emergency room in polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and was successfully cardioverted to sinus rhythm with two further shocks. The subsequent rhythm showed Wolff–Parkinson–White Syndrome, and an echocardiogram

Discussion

Survival rates for out-of-hospital defibrillation depend on the time between collapse and defibrillation. Better than 50% survival rates are seen when defibrillation occurs within the first 3 min of witnessed adult VF arrests [1]. The advent of AEDs and subsequent confirmation of their efficacy in adults [2], [3], [4] has allowed earlier defibrillation in a variety of public settings where these devices are available. In a recent advisory statement by the International Liaison Committee on

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A Spanish translated version of the Abstract of this article appears as Appendix at 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2005.05.003.

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