Kerber R E, Davis J E
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Resuscitation. 1997 Jun;34(3):243-5. doi: 10.1016/s0300-9572(96)01089-1.
We present a case of open-chest cardiac massage where ventricular fibrillation developed and a direct current shock was required. In the absence of 'surgical' electrode paddles, standard paddle electrodes were used; one small electrode was placed directly on the exposed epicardial surface and the second electrode was placed on the lateral chest wall. Defibrillation was achieved with a 100 J shock. This combined epicardial-transthoracic electrode paddle placement technique allows defibrillation to be accomplished when open chest cardiac massage is being performed and no 'surgical' electrode paddles are available.
