Defibrillation after Cardiac Arrest — Is It Time to Change Practice?

Treatment of patients with ventricular fibrillation is challenging. Despite heroic efforts, including the performance of high-quality chest compressions with minimal interruptions, placement of advanced airways, multiple standard defibrillation attempts, and other interventions for advanced cardiac life support, some patients will remain in refractory ventricular fibrillation. Unfortunately, this results in a major gap in care, with emergency care personnel left with few therapeutic options, coupled with a decreasing likelihood of successful resuscitation with increasing numbers of defibrillation attempts.