Automated external defibrillar is used for?

An automated external defibrillator is used in cases of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias which lead to sudden cardiac arrest, 'which is not the same as a hea attack. The rhythms that the device will treat are usually limited to:'' Pulseless Ventricular tachycardia (shoened to VT or V-Tach) Ventricular fibrillation (shoened to VF or V-Fib) In each of these two types of shockable cardiac arrhythmia, the hea is electrically active, but in a dysfunctional pattern that does not allow it to pump and circulate blood. In ventricular tachycardia, the hea beats too fast to effectively pump blood. Ultimately, ventricular tachycardia leads to ventricular fibrillation. In ventricular fibrillation, the electrical activity of the hea becomes chaotic, preventing the ventricle from effectively pumping blood. The fibrillation in the hea decreases over time, and will eventually reach asystole. AEDs, like all defibrillators, are not designed to shock asystole ('flat line' patterns) as this will not have a positive clinical outcome. The asystolic patient only has a chance of survival if, through a combination of CPR and cardiac stimulant drugs, one of the shockable rhythms can be established, which makes it imperative for CPR to be carried out prior to the arrival of a defibrillator. Ref Davidson 23rd edition pg 457