Transthoracic defibrillation potential gradients in a closed chest porcine model of prolonged spontaneous and electrically induced ventricular fibrillation

Defibrillation of prolonged VF produced by acute myocardial ischaemia requires a significantly greater potential gradient to terminate than prolonged VF induced by electrical stimulation of the right ventricular endocardium. The VF duration used in this study approximates that occurring in victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Our findings may be of clinical importance in the management of such patients.