Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Compared to monophasic defibrillation, what is an advantage of biphasic defibrillation?

1. It is simpler to operate

2. It utilizes less energy to achieve effective defibrillation

3. It can be used on all age groups

4. It requires fewer monitoring devices

The correct answer is: It utilizes less energy to achieve effective defibrillation

Biphasic defibrillation represents an advancement in defibrillation technology, primarily due to its efficiency in energy usage. The advantage of employing a biphasic waveform is that it tends to achieve successful defibrillation at lower energy levels compared to monophasic defibrillation. This means that when treating patients experiencing cardiac arrest, biphasic defibrillators can restore normal heart rhythm sooner and with less electrical energy, thereby reducing potential damage to heart tissue and other organs. Using less energy is crucial because it decreases the risk of side effects or complications that can arise from higher energy shocks, such as myocardial injury. The design of biphasic defibrillation allows the electrical current to flow in one direction before reversing, optimizing the delivery of the shock to the heart. This feature makes biphasic defibrillation not only effective but also safer for patients. While the other options present various benefits of defibrillators, they do not directly highlight the core advantage of biphasic defibrillation regarding energy efficiency. For instance, simplicity of operation, applicability to all age groups, or monitoring requirements may vary based on individual device designs, but the unique advantage of utilizing less energy remains a significant reason for the preferences indicated within clinical settings.