Manual Defib Flashcards
PPE
Don appropriate PPE, and undertake
appropriate hand hygiene.
Equipment
Defibrillator
Appropriate sized pads
Indications
Patient where Life Support has
commenced and;
Patient presenting with a shockable
rhythm – Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
or Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia
(pVT).
Contraindications
Hazardous environments:
- water, metal fixtures,
flammable substances, and
oxygen.
Patient presenting with a non-
shockable rhythm – Asystole or PEA.
Patient whose condition is
unequivocally associated with death.
Prepare equipment
Position defibrillator to maximise
operator view, yet not interfere with
resuscitation.
Ensure pad type is appropriate for
patient’s age.
Check that pads are in date and that
wires are intact.
Prepare patient
Place the patient supine.
Remove or cut away sufficient
clothing to expose chest.
Remove medication patches,
jewellery, or ECG electrodes.
Shave chest hair, if considered thick
enough to interfere with
pad/electrode adhesion.
Dry the chest (if required)
Position pads
Antero-lateral pad position is the
position of choice for initial pad
placement
Anterior-posterior position where
required, e.g. Children
Avoid breast tissue, placement over
the sternum and patient’s neck. Place pads > 8 cm away from pacemakers and ICDs
Roll pads on to avoid air pockets, To ensure contact adhesion.
Set
defibrillator
energy
Set defibrillator energy to
recommended level
– paediatric
guidelines.
In the absence of any clear evidence
for the optimal initial and
subsequent energy levels, any
energy level within th
e range of 120
-
360j is acceptable for the initial
shock, followed by an escalating
strategy up to maximum output of
the defibrillator.
Evaluate
rhythm
Pause CPR
Rapidly evaluate the presenting
rhythm to identify Ventricular
Fibrillation (VF) or pulseless
Ventricular Tachycardia (pVT) from
non-shockable rhythms
Charge defib
Continue chest compressions during
defibrillator charging.
Move oxygen away
Move oxygen away from the patient, at least 1 metre away. Unless the patient is intubated or igel insitu
Safety of others
Ensure CPR has stopped and noone is touching the patient. Check the top middle and bottom of the patient is clear, clearly verbalise the command to stand clear.
Defibrillate / Disarm
If the rhythm is VF or pulseless VT, deliver the shock if safe to do so.
Interuption of chest compression less that 5 seconds.
Confirm the shock has been delivered and it is safe to touch the patient
Immedietley resume chest compressions
Report / document
Handover relevant information such as the initial rhythm, number of shocks, pad placement and the joules used