AED Pads for Conscious Patients?

[Bosco836]

Cardioversion with proper sync is not possible on an AED.

I used to think this too, but apparently Cardiac Science is now including an algorithm for Cardioversion on some of their AEDs. http://www.cardiacscience.com/cardi...oluntary_device_correction_resources/6677.pdf --> See page 17 for further reference.

As an aside, there was an interesting article in JEMS about a school nurse who performed synchronized cardioversion on a conscious patient using this particular AED and the ramifications associated with it.
http://www.jems.com/articles/print/...ads-nurse-to-shock-concious-boy-with-aed.html

 

[luke_31]

As an aside, there was an interesting article in JEMS about a school nurse who performed synchronized cardioversion on a conscious patient using this particular AED and the ramifications associated with it.
http://www.jems.com/articles/print/...ads-nurse-to-shock-concious-boy-with-aed.html

Talk about lucky. The AED may have been designed to work for the cardioversion, but shouldn't have been used for this patient at all.

 

[Bosco836]

Talk about lucky. The AED may have been designed to work for the cardioversion, but shouldn't have been used for this patient at all.

Completely agree. I get the impression that the provider identified in the article had no idea what was actually going on. In the alternative, more appropriate treatments should have been considered prior to attempting to electrically cardiovert (Assuming that such a procedure is even within the providers scope).

What amazes me is that these AED units - presumably for use by lay people - actually are equipped with such a feature in the first place.

 

[EpiEMS]

What amazes me is that these AED units - presumably for use by lay people - actually are equipped with such a feature in the first place.

I had quickly read the article on the train, so pardon my misinterpretation -- but doesn't it seem like it was contraindicated to apply it to begin with? It's not as if the machine can identify LOC.

If anything, seems like a good feature to have for that truly unstable patient.