What is Ventricular Tachycardia for Automated External Defibrillators?

Aim: Assessment and comparison of different algorithms that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) use to recognize as shockable monomorphic and polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). Method: Engineering bench tests for a descriptive systematic evaluation in commercially available AEDs. AEDs were tested through an electrocardiographic (ECG) simulator that is capable to generate different kind of monomorphic and polymorphic VT. All tests were performed at the engineering facility of the Lombardia Regional Emergency Service (AREU, Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza). Results: The tests showed marked differences among the AEDs when a Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia was simulated. The AED recognized the Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (MVT) as shockable rhythm above a value ranging from 140 to 230 beats per minute (BPM). For Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (PVT) not all AEDs delivered a shock when pre-determined types of VT were selected.