A new procedure for patients experiencing cardiac arrest has been adopted in New Zealand. According to media reports, this procedure has the potential to improve survival rates significantly.
Last month, New Zealand became the second country after Canada to implement the procedure. The procedure, known as double sequential external defibrillation (DSED), can also change the emergency response strategies.
In order to save the patient from cardiac arrest effective resuscitation plays a crucial role. In case of cardiac arrest, defibrillation gives the heart a powerful electric shock to terminate the abnormal electrical activity. Consequently, the heart goes back to its regular rhythm.
To achieve successful defibrillation, underlying dysfunctional heart rhythm and the proper positioning of the pads that give the shock is important. However, the new procedure provide second option when standard positioning is not effective.
According to a report by Science Alert, DSED is a novel method that provides rapid sequential shocks to the heart using two defibrillators. In this method, the pads are attached in two different locations: one on the front and side of the chest, the other on the front and back.
Reportedly, ambulance data from New Zealand from 2020 to 2023 has identified about 1,390 people who could potentially benefit from novel defibrillation methods. The survival rate of this group currently stands at 14 percent.