Hello all. I have an unconventional question. You know now days, at the most a defibrillator will charge is 360 J I am curious to know if any of you can recall using one that actually would charge up to 400 Joules. I know that the Lifepak six would charge up to 400 J, however Intramuscular wondering if you remember any others that did. Of course now days, you would not charge to 400 J because that is not in the ACLS Protocol. Thank you so much.
nrsang97, BSN, RN 2,602 Posts Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg. Has 22 years experience. Jun 20, 2015 In my 14 years as a nurse I have never ever seen one go to 400.
RiskManager 1 Article; 615 Posts Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability. Jun 20, 2015 I like to say that my right arm is an inch longer than the left from hauling the 37 pounds of lead-acid battery goodness that was the PC Lifepak 6 on and off the Medic One rig to the patient. It charged up to 400 joules. This was the standard defibrillator used in EMS in Western Washington at the time, so I never used any other unit. Medstad: Physio-Control Lifepak 6 Defibrillator/ Monitor
ECMO 19 Posts Jun 20, 2015 I like to say that my right arm is an inch longer than the left from hauling the 37 pounds of lead-acid battery goodness that was the PC Lifepak 6 on and off the Medic One rig to the patient. It charged up to 400 joules. This was the standard defibrillator used in EMS in Western Washington at the time, so I never used any other unit. Medstad: Physio-Control Lifepak 6 Defibrillator/ Monitor Wow. That is interesting. Thank you for sharing that info on these defibrillators with me.
canoehead, BSN, RN 6,837 Posts Specializes in ER. Has 30 years experience. Jun 20, 2015 It seems wise to have the ability to deliver shocks even higher. If you get someone 100-200lb overweight I imagine a few extra joules make a lot of sense.
CrufflerJJ, RN 1 Article; 1,023 Posts Specializes in ICU. Has 5 years experience. Jun 21, 2015 On my fire department, we had an ancient MRL defibrillator with an aluminum case stashed in a closet ever since it had been taken out of service years prior. It would go up to 400 joules.
RiskManager 1 Article; 615 Posts Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability. Jun 21, 2015 It seems wise to have the ability to deliver shocks even higher. If you get someone 100-200lb overweight I imagine a few extra joules make a lot of sense.I was trained that this was the rationale for having the 400 J setting on the LifePak 6. I cannot for the life of me remember if I ever to to go above 360 J, however.
