A NEW SOVIET DEFIBRILLATOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240067-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 12, 2011
• Sequence Number: 67
• Publication Date: October 3, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240067-0
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240067-0
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240067-0
Meditsinskiy Rabotnik, Vol 18, No 44
Moscow, 27 May 55
In connection with the more extensive application of chest surgery, par-
ticularly in cardiac operations, the necessity arises of counteracting the
fibrillation of the heart. This complication, which leads to a rapid death
of the patient, sometimes occurs even when hypothermia is applied.
Experimental investigations and observations carried out by clinicists
have shown that the most effective method of eliminating this serious compli-
cation is applying an electric current to the heart. Foreign scientists on
purely empirical grounds use an alternating current for this purpose. However,
when this current is applied, a danger may arise to the personnel. Furthermore,
under certain conditions an alternating current may itself bring about a fibril-
lation of the heart. For the reasons stated, the American investigators 'diggers
and Beck proposed that the potential of the alternating current be restricted to
that of the lighting current network, i.e., 110-135 volts. This potential is
sufficient only when the electrodes are placed directly on the heart, so that
an incision into the chest must be carried out.
At the laboratory of Experimental Physiology on the resuscitation of the
Organism, Academy of Medical Sciences USSR, a prolonged investigation has been
carried out on the process of fibrillation and the conditions which are needed
for terminating the fibrillation (i.e., effecting a defibrillation). It has
been established that defibrillation takes place as a result of the ordinary
stimulating effect of the electric current on the heart. It has been further-
more established that prolonged application of an alternating current is inad-
visable. It is better to apply a single electric impulse having a duration of
about 0.01 second, which is the time that corresponds to the so-called useful
period of the stimulation of the cardiac muscle. A stimulus of this kind is
effective at the minimum duration and current strength of the applied current
and is not accompanied by harmful results, which are observed when the heart
is exposed to the action of the current for a longer period (up to 0.5 second).
The factor of safety connected with the application of a single impulse
makes it possible to apply a higher potential for the defibrillation of the
heart by placing the electrodes on the surface of the chest. This method of
application makes it possible to use an electric current outside of the walls
of the surgery for rendering aid in injuries caused by electric currents or
drowning and conditions arising as a result of some cardiac diseases. The
study of the pathophysiology of terminal conditions has shown that defibrilla-
tion can be included in the complex of measures applied in V. A. Negovskiy's
method of resuscitation. In such cases, the possibility of defibrillating the
heart rapidly without an incision into the chest contributes to the effective-
ness of the aid rendered to the victim.
N. L. Gurvich, Associate at the Laboratory of Experimental Physiology on
the Resuscitation of the Organism, and A. N. Akopyan and I. A. Zhukov of the
All-Union Electrical Engineering Institute imeni V. I. Lenin, have designed a
special apparatus called the defibrillator. This apparatus generates single
electrical impulses, which represent discharges of a definite wave form and
duration emanating from a condenser. The condenser of the apparatus can be
charged up to a potential of 6,000 volts, so that defibrillation can be car-
ried out without making an incision into the chest. When operations are car-
ried out on the organs of the chest and the electrodes therefore can be ap-
plied directly to the heart, a potential not exceeding 2,000 volts is suffi-
cient.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240067-0
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240067-0
The defibrillator designed in the USSR has a number of advantages as com-
pared with similar equipment used for this purpose abroad: it is safe in use,
does not exert any harmful effects on the heart, and makes it possible to accom-
plish a defibrillation of the heart without making an incision into the chest.
The first units of the new equipment are already in use at the major surgi-
cal clinics. The Presidium of the Academy of Medical Sciences USSR has approved
the new aunaratus.
L
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240067-0
STAT