Often times in TV shows and movies defibrillator is used when someone has a slow or no pulse but isn’t that wrong? Could some explain what the purpose of defibrillator is used for? And do shows and movie even do research before shooting the scene?
In: 5
Defibrillation is only indicated in two lethal rhythms: ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The goal is for the electrical current to reorganize these electrical activities into a normal rhythm that would be compatible with perfusion.
There are other heart rhythms that can cause or coincide with cardiac arrest, like asystole, but these are not responsive to defibrillation. They are exclusively treated with chest compressions, rescue breaths, and medications like epinephrine.
Sometimes electrical therapies are used in patients who are not in cardiac arrest. Synchronized cardioversion and transcutaneous pacing are used in the treatments of certain hemodynamically unstable tachycardias and bradycardias, respectively.
No idea how TV and movie scenes are researched or scripted. My wife hates watching anything that has a medical emergency because I usually lol too much at how ridiculous it is compared to reality. Side note: Scrubs does a great job with its medical accuracy as well as its portrayal of resident life.
Source: am Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) qualified and instruct courses as well
Latest Answers