What is the energy setting for monophasic defibrillation?

Monophasic defibrillation involves delivering a single electrical shock to the heart in an attempt to restore normal rhythm in cases of life-threatening arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The recommended energy setting for monophasic defibrillation is 360 joules. This higher energy level is necessary for effectively depolarizing a significant portion of the myocardium and interrupting the chaotic electrical activity characteristic of these arrhythmias.

Using a monophasic defibrillator at this energy setting helps ensure that a sufficient therapeutic dose of energy is delivered to successfully convert the arrhythmia and potentially save a patient's life. It's important to note that other energy settings encountered for different devices, such as biphasic defibrillators, vary and typically have lower recommended settings effective for their designs.