AED's

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We had a patient the other day come to the OR with an AED attached. The patient had coded a couple of times in ICU. The patient went into v fib in OR and we tried to shock the patient with the AED and it kept telling us that it detected a pulse and would not shock the patient. the patient had an external pacer attached. We shocked the patient with the regular defib and got a rythym back. The only thing that we could figure was that the AED was picking up the pacer firings as a beat. It would have been nice to know that you could not use an AED on a person with a pacer. Has anyone else come across this problem? Thanks

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Could placement of the AED pads been the issue. I do believe you can use an AED however the pads need to be 10 cm from the pacemaker.

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Originally posted by nurse62

Could placement of the AED pads been the issue. I do believe you can use an AED however the pads need to be 10 cm from the pacemaker.

That is good to know thanks

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

I know this is an old post, BUT...why is an AED in an ICU??? I am sure this was just a case of mistaken identity, but still!!!

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, Home Health/Hospice, Cath Lab,.
I know this is an old post, BUT...why is an AED in an ICU??? I am sure this was just a case of mistaken identity, but still!!!

Our new defibrillators have an AED option. Turn clockwise to monitor regular defib, turn counterclockwise for AED. Don't really like it but there you go.

Pat

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i have shocked pt's with pacemakers before using an AED just the 10 cm rule normally does the trick. but if you can avoid using AED option on people w./ pacemakers it's alot easier.

e

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