Experimental evaluation and initial clinical application of new self-adhesive defibrillation electrodes

We evaluated the efficacy of self-adhesive electrode pads for defibrillation and cardioversion in animals and patients. In 11 anesthetized dogs, the success rate of shocks given to terminate electrically-induced ventricular fibrillation was similar for both self-adhesive electrode pads and hand-held electrode paddles; success rate approached 100% at energies of 125-150 joules. Eighty patients undergoing defibrillation or elective cardioversion received shocks from self-adhesive pads. In all but 2 patients defibrillation or cardioversion was achieved at least once using these pads. The pads were equally effective from either apex-anterior or apex-posterior positions. The transthoracic impedance using self-adhesive pads was 75 +/- 21 ohms, similar to transthoracic impedance we previously reported when using standard hand-held paddles. No complications occurred with the use of the pads. We conclude that self-adhesive electrode pads are effective for defibrillation and cardioversion.