Introduction: Current resuscitation guidelines state that the safety of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in infants less than 1 year of age is unknown.
Methods and results: We report successful AED use in a 31-day-old previously healthy infant with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Chest compressions began immediately, pediatric AED pads were applied in less than 5 minutes and the initial rhythm was ventricular fibrillation. After two 50 J shocks, return of spontaneous circulation was achieved. She was diagnosed with a rare but previously described syndrome of infant ventricular fibrillation and was discharged to home in good condition after epicardial defibrillator placement.
Conclusions: This case represents, to our knowledge, the youngest patient successfully defibrillated by an AED in a nonmedical setting. Although she received two shocks more than 11 J/kg each, she had no apparent myocardial damage at presentation.
Keywords: automated external defibrillation; cardiac arrest; infant; pediatric; ventricular fibrillation.
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.