Answer:
Option D, it is an electric shock that can restore and effective heart rhythm to a person of sudden cardiac arrest
Step-by-step explanation:
The definition of defibrillation is an electric shock used to restore an effective heart rhythm to an unconscious person experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest, option D.
Defibrillation without traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not conducive to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) with minimal damage. Until an effective shock is delivered (meaning the patient's pulse and breathing return), the patient still requires manual circulation of the remaining oxygenated blood to perfuse their tissues. Stopping CPR to deliver defib over and over until ROSC occurs is a great way to increase mortality rates. We don't want that! This means option A is out. If the patient is able to communicate their chest pain to the provider, that means they are both breathing and in possession of a functioning heart (degree to which it is functioning pending) and, thus, defibrillation is contraindicated, ruling out option C; we only defib patients who are not breathing, do not have a pulse, and have a shockable rhythm, leading to the last answer option. Defibrillating devices analyze the heart's conduction activity in order to determine if a shockable rhythm is detected to promote ROSC. In the absence of electrical activity, known as asystole, a shock cannot be delivered -- this is something to be committed to memory! You cannot shock asystole! Because of this, we can eliminate option B.