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(Circulation. 2000;101:1324.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.

Basic Science Reports

Ventricular Defibrillation With Triphasic Waveforms

Jian Huang, MD; Bruce H. KenKnight, PhD; Dennis L. Rollins, MS; William M. Smith, PhD; Raymond E. Ideker, MD, PhD

From the Cardiac Rhythm Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, Department of Physiology, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (J.H., D.L.R., W.M.S., R.E.I.), Birmingham, Ala, and Guidant Corporation (B.H.K.), Cardiac Rhythm Management Group, St Paul, Minn.

Correspondence to Raymond E. Ideker, MD, PhD, Cardiac Rhythm Management Laboratory, Volker Hall B140, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019. E-mail rei{at}crml.uab.edu

Background—It has been reported that triphasic defibrillation waveforms cause less myocardial injury than biphasic waveforms. This study compared the defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) of triphasic and biphasic waveforms.

Methods and Results—DFTs were determined for a transvenous lead system and a 300-µF-capacitor defibrillator. In 8 pigs (group 1), DFTs were determined for 5 triphasic waveforms with tilts of 80%, 83%, and 86% and for 1 biphasic waveform. DFTs were determined in another 8 pigs (group 2) for 2 triphasic and 4 biphasic waveforms with tilts of 43%, 49%, and 56%. In both groups, a biphasic waveform from a 140-µF-capacitor defibrillator was also evaluated, and both shock polarities were tested for each waveform. In group 1, with the 300-µF-capacitor defibrillator, the leading-edge voltage and energy stored at DFT were significantly lower for triphasic waveforms with phase-duration ratios of 50/33/17 and an anode at the right ventricular electrode for phase 1 than for biphasic waveforms (P<0.001). In group 2, the stored energy of triphasic waveforms with 56% and 49% tilt was significantly lower than that of biphasic waveforms with the same tilts for anodal but not cathodal phase 1 at the right ventricular electrode. Electrode polarity significantly affected the DFT of triphasic waveforms for both studies.

Conclusions—Some 80% tilt triphasic waveforms defibrillate more efficiently than biphasic waveforms with a 300-µF-capacitor defibrillator. The triphasic waveforms for both groups were not superior to 140-µF-capacitor biphasic waveforms. The efficacy of triphasic waveforms depends on phase durations and electrode polarity.

Key Words: defibrillation • waveforms • ventricles

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