Defibrillators/AICD's

Our Anesthesiologists are the ones who handle defibrillators. They're the ones who look into what kind the patient has, plus tracking down the doctor who put it in for settings and programming/re-programming. Usually in the OR we just use the bipolar and not the monopolar...ShirleyM

Same for us too..

What is your hospital's practice for patients going to the OR who have implanted defibrillators in place? I am trying to write up guidelines and would like to add any information or alter our own to make it best for the patient and all others involved when we have to have them "turned off" before surgery.

Thanks in advance.

Stacey,

AORN has guidelines on AID's at their web site http://www.AORN.ORG

Go to practice then scroll down to AORN statements.

Good luck,

Paula

For the most part, anes. docs handle the pacer/defib. problems

We make sure that a copy of the pt's wallet card is on the chart so that we know what type of unit is in there.

If it's a pacer, especially if it's on demand, and the pt's not really needing it, we really don't do anything.

Other wise, we might use a little local with epi, and try not to use a bovie.

We also have a donut magnet to use.

Depending on the unit, you leave it on the unit, that suspends it.

Removing the magnet, returns it to it's settings. Another way is to hold the magnet to the unit, wait for a beep ( depending on the unit) deactivating it, the passing the magnet over it later, with a beep and the unit is active again.

I suggets having the unit interrorgated (sp?) as soon afterwards as possible

Mike