[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Electric stimulation of the heart]

Due to the alteration in contractions coordinated and organized by miocardiac fibers, various types of cardiac stimulation have been designed which became acceptable standard clinical procedures starting in 1947 after the first successful electrical defibrilation was carried out on a human heart. This article includes techniques such as precordial fist percussion, repetitive precordial beating on the thorax, synchronized cardioversion, non-synchronized electrical shocks and pacemakers. Electrical therapy is used in the treatment of potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia, especially for ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrilation, complete heart block, and asystolia.