AEDs are effective devices that verbally and visually guide both the general public and trained health care personnel to provide defibrillation to patients in cardiac arrest with VF. The AED analyzes the cardiac electrical signal, including amplitude, frequency, and morphology and displays this visually. The AED can check for user error (such as poor contact of the electrodes), alternate rhythms (e.g., QRS-like signals), and cycle interference.

These devices have been evaluated extensively in both adult and pediatric patients and compared to known cardiac arrhythmias. AEDs are very accurate in determining shockable rhythms. These devices only provide unsynchronized shocks for VT based on certain preset conditions for R-wave morphology and rate.

Related Video: How to Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Safety