Low-energy direct defibrillation of the human heart following cardioplegic arrest.

In this study of direct defibrillation, 130 patients underwent coronary artery bypass procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass, moderate systemic hypothermia, and cardioplegic arrest. No patient required more than 10 watt-seconds of energy for defibrillation, and in 90.91% of those who required defibrillation, 5 watt-seconds or less was sufficient.