In Adult Unstable Torsades de Pointes, what defibrillation energy is used?

In Adult Unstable Torsades de Pointes, what defibrillation energy is used?

• A. 200 J
• B. 360 J
• C. 150 J
• D. 100 J

Answer: (A)

When an adult with unstable torsades de pointes needs defibrillation, the goal is to terminate the dangerous rhythm quickly with a shock that the device can deliver effectively. For a modern biphasic defibrillator, the standard first shock energy is 200 joules. This lower energy works well because biphasic waveforms deliver the necessary current more efficiently, reducing unnecessary myocardial injury compared with older single-waveform machines that used higher energies. If the rhythm isn’t terminated by the first shock, follow device-specific escalation guidelines (which may involve higher energies or different sequences depending on the equipment). The other energy values reflect different device types or older guidelines, not the typical first choice for an unstable adult with torsades on a biphasic defibrillator.

When an adult with unstable torsades de pointes needs defibrillation, the goal is to terminate the dangerous rhythm quickly with a shock that the device can deliver effectively. For a modern biphasic defibrillator, the standard first shock energy is 200 joules. This lower energy works well because biphasic waveforms deliver the necessary current more efficiently, reducing unnecessary myocardial injury compared with older single-waveform machines that used higher energies. If the rhythm isn’t terminated by the first shock, follow device-specific escalation guidelines (which may involve higher energies or different sequences depending on the equipment). The other energy values reflect different device types or older guidelines, not the typical first choice for an unstable adult with torsades on a biphasic defibrillator.