Care for Defibrillators

Defibrillators are often implanted in heart patients or, in the event of cardiac emergencies, used externally. They employ electrical jolts to return a heart beat to normal or get it started again. When properly used and cared for, defibrillators can be life-saving devices.

Internal and External Defibrillators

• Patients with a cardiac arrhythmia or other condition involving an irregular heart beat are often treated with the implantation of a defibrillator in their bodies. An internal defibrillator is designed to sense when the heart slows or stops and automatically administer the electrical jolt necessary to help the heart resume beating.

  An external defibrillator can be a great medical tool to have on hand to help you save a life in the event of a heart attack. Generally, it needs to be used within five minutes of a cardiac event if it is stand a chance of re-starting the heart. Many external defibrillators are designed to be easy for the lay person to use, and most have internal controls which decide when a shock is necessary.

  Both internal and external defibrillators require proper maintenance and care.

Care of Internal Defibrillators

• The defibrillator consists of a programmer, a generator and a set of wires. The wires and generator are placed in the body during surgery. The programmer monitors the heart rate. The generator, which consists of a metal shell with a battery and a computer, sends information to the programmer. The wire connects the interior of the heart to the generator. A defibrillator is most often used when the heart muscle is almost irreparably damaged after a heart attack or from heart disease.

  Care of the defibrillator takes two forms -- post-surgical and long term. The defibrillator is an appendage placed inside the body, and its presence is hardly felt. The entire surgery takes between half an hour and an hour. Once the surgery is performed, for the first two hours,you have to be in a recovery room. For the first two to four weeks, you should avoid sleeping on your left side to avoid strain on the surgical site.

  It is important for you to ensure that the wires do not get disconnected. To protect against possible disconnects, avoid pressure on the shoulders and upper part of the body. You are typically advised to refrain from heavy exercises such as tennis; swimming and weightlifting for at least six months. In fact, it is better if even less strenuous activities such as golf are avoided for three months at the minimum.

  Other long-term care responsibilities include having the defibrillator battery checked at regular intervals and seeing the doctor regularly to see if it is functioning efficiently. If the defibrillator battery stops functioning, the defibrillator will cease to work properly and additional surgery will be required to replace the battery.

Care of External Defibrillators

• First, know how to use the machine. Those who own an external defibrillator should take an AED (automatic external defibrillator) training course to learn to use the machine properly. This course will teach you where to place the defibrillator and how to use it in the event of an incident.

  Perform a check on the external defibrillator at least once a month. Most models have a self-check feature built in. You can turn on the machine and follow the instructions for self-checking included in the owners manual. This generally involves ensuring all the electrical components are still functioning and that the defibrillator is able to be turned on. Some defibrillators have an automatic self-checking system built into the unit. Checking these is even simpler: you simply look at the indicator on the unit to ensure it does not display any error messages.

  External defibrillator pads also expire after a set period of time. Checking this expiration date is an important part of caring for an external defibrillator. You may need to open the unit's case to find the expiration date. If the pads expire, you will need to purchase new ones to ensure the unit remains in good working order.

  Finally, carry the defibrillator and all its parts in an approved carrying case to protect the unit from damage. Most units come with a carrying case, or one can be purchased at a medical supply store.