Session P71.3

Comparative Analysis of the Parameters Affecting AED Rhythm Analysis Algorithms Applied to Pediatric and Adult Ventricular Tachycardia

E Aramendi*, U Irusta, S Ruiz de Gauna, J Ruiz

University of the Basque Country
Bilbao, Spain

The use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) is recommended in children since the year 2003; the evaluation of the rhythm analysis algorithms of AEDs in children is therefore necessary. We have thoroughly analysed the main ECG parameters used in AED algorithms for both: a pediatric and an adult database of Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) rhythms.
The pediatric rhythm database contains 70 VT samples collected in Spanish hospitals from children aged 0 to 14 years. The mean duration of the samples is 12.27 s. The adult database complies with the American Heart's Association (AHA) recommendations for AED rhythm analysis databases, and contains 105 samples with a mean duration of 11.56 s.
We have calculated four parameters commonly used in AED rhythm analysis algorithms: Pulse Rate (PR), Waveform Power Relation (WPR), Baseline Content (BC) and Probability Distribution Width (PDW). We have statistically analyzed the results, grouped by age and rhythm type (shockable and intermediate). A summary, mean and standard deviation, for the whole set of rhythms follows: PR (bpm): 233.53 ± 52.57 (pediatric)/189.29 ± 51.52 (adult) BC (%): 19.56 ± 7.66 (pediatric) / 18.76 ± 9.03 (adult) PDW (n.u.): 3.56 ± 0.93 (pediatric) / 3.74 ± 1.14 (adult) WPR (%): 0.76 ± 0.12 (pediatric) / 0.80 ± 0.15 (adult)
We have obtained valuable conclusions on the influence of the parameters in the shock/noshock decision, i.e. the sensitivity of the algorithm, when applied to children. We underline the specific aspects to be considered in order to distinguish VT from nonshockable tachycardia rhythms, should an algorithm be designed for pediatric use.

(Abstract Control Number: 109)