Analysis of the ventricular fibrillation waveform in refibrillation

Frustrating outcomes are driving investigation of alternative resuscitation protocols. Previous analysis of the ventricular fibrillation (VF) waveform has focused on guiding whether to shock immediately or to delay for delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the case of presenting VF. The same issues emerge in the case of refibrillation.

All cases of witnessed VF cardiac arrest in the Rochester, MN, area in a 9-yr period were analyzed. Rochester rescuers employed an early defibrillation protocol during the study period. A summary measure of the VF waveform before the shock delivered in 35 incidents of refibrillation was compared with the time elapsed from the initial shock, the intervening electrocardiographic rhythm, ambulance response time, and call-to-shock time for prediction of early return of spontaneous circulation and of neurologically intact survival. VF waveform analysis separated patients with good outcomes when treated with early defibrillation of refibrillation from those without good outcomes more clearly than other predictors.

Analysis of VF waveform offers promise for real-time guidance of resuscitation efforts on the basis of individual patient characteristics, in refibrillation and in the initial shock. It has advantages over guidance based on individual or aggregate system response times.