What does monophasic defibrillation do?

Monophasic defibrillation is designed to deliver a single, uniform electrical shock to the heart. This shock is applied in one direction, from one electrode pad to the other, effectively targeting the cardiac tissue to interrupt abnormal electrical activity, such as that seen in certain types of arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation. The goal is to depolarize the entire myocardium in hopes of resetting the heart's rhythm to a more normal sinus rhythm.

The one-directional delivery of the charge is crucial because it ensures that the energy is focused and delivered effectively to the areas of the heart needing restoration of normal electrical function. This is in contrast to biphasic defibrillation, where the electrical current flows first in one direction and then reverses to flow in the opposite direction. Understanding this fundamental difference in how electrical shocks are administered is key to grasping the principles of defibrillation in critical care settings.