Monophasic versus Biphasic defibrillation
Date First Published:
September 9, 2000
Last Updated:
October 9, 2001
Report by:
Russell Boyd, Consultant in Accident and Emergency Medicine (MRI)
Search checked by:
Angaj Ghosh, MRI
Three-Part Question:
In [Ventricular Fibrillation in humans] is [external defibrillation using biphasic or monophasic D/C shock] better [at restoring sinus rhythm]?
Clinical Scenario:
You have just finished an unsuccessful cardiac resuscitation with an initial presenting rhythm of ventricular fibrillation. You wonder if one of the new Biphasic defibrillators would have increased the possibility of successful defibrillation when compared to your old monophasic device.
Search Strategy:
Medline 1966-11/00 using the OVID interface.
Search Details:
(biphasic.mp OR monophasic.mp) AND (exp defibrillation OR exp electric counter shock OR cardioversion.mp)
Outcome:
A total of 317 papers were identified of which 4 appeared relevant.
Relevant Paper(s):
| Study Title | Patient Group | Study type (level of evidence) | Outcomes | Key results | Study Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparison of monophasic and biphasic defibrillating pulse waveforms for transthoracic cardioversion. Greene HL, DiMarco JP, Kudenchuk PJ et al. 1995, USA | 171 patients undergoing electrophysiological studies for ventricular arrhythmias with induced VT and VF requiring external defibrillation. Monophasic vs biphasic |
PRCT | Success of first shock in VT | 85.2% (75/88) vs 97.6% (81/83) | Laboratory conditions for fresh arrhythmias |
| Success of first shock in VF | 78.6% (22/28) vs 100% (25/25) | ||||
| Multicenter comparison of truncated biphasic shocks and standard damped sine wave monophasic shocks for transthoracic ventricular defibrillation. Bardy GH, Marchlinski FE, Sharma AD et al. 1996, USA | 294 patients with induced VF/VT during implantation of cardioversion devices Monophasic vs biphasic |
PRCT | Success of first shock | 86% (143/166) vs 86% (144/167) | Laboratory conditions for fresh arrhythmias Results for VF and VT combined |
| Comparison of a novel rectilinear biphasic waveform with a damped sine wave monophasic waveform for transthoracic ventricular defibrillation. Mittal S, Ayati S, Stein KM et al. 1999, USA | 184 patients undergoing electrophysiological testing for ventricular arrhythmias producing an induced VF Monophasic vs biphasic |
PRCT | Success of first shock | 93% (80/86) vs 99% (97/98) (P=0.05) | Laboratory conditions for fresh arrhythmias |
| Multicenter, randomised, controlled trial of 150-J Biphasic shocks compared with 200-to-360-J Monophasic shocks in the resuscitation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims. Schneider T, Martens PR, Paschen H et al. 2000, Germany | 115 out of hospital VF cardiac arrests | Multicenter, unblinded, randomised controlled trial | Restoration of cardiac output (ROSC) | 76% of patients with biphasic defibrillation had ROSC with 54% ROSC with monophasic defib (stat sig) | A variety of differing monophasic devices were used Crews were not blinded as to the type of defib output being used |
| Survival to hospital discharge | No significant difference |
Author Commentary:
There is some "laboratory evidence" that biphasic defibrillation has higher first shock success rates for defibrillation of VF/VT. Use of biphasic devices in "real world" situations has a higher return of cardiac output but no overall survival advantage.
Bottom Line:
The advantages of biphasic devices are currently mainly theoretical. No "real world" data exists that would mandate an immediate conversion to using biphasic devices.
References:
- Greene HL, DiMarco JP, Kudenchuk PJ et al.. Comparison of monophasic and biphasic defibrillating pulse waveforms for transthoracic cardioversion.
- Bardy GH, Marchlinski FE, Sharma AD et al.. Multicenter comparison of truncated biphasic shocks and standard damped sine wave monophasic shocks for transthoracic ventricular defibrillation.
- Mittal S, Ayati S, Stein KM et al.. Comparison of a novel rectilinear biphasic waveform with a damped sine wave monophasic waveform for transthoracic ventricular defibrillation.
- Schneider T, Martens PR, Paschen H et al.. Multicenter, randomised, controlled trial of 150-J Biphasic shocks compared with 200-to-360-J Monophasic shocks in the resuscitation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims.