abstract |
Transthoracic cardiac stimulation therapies provide for detection and treatment of cardiac asystole subsequent to delivery of a defibrillation therapy. A pacing therapy is transthoracicly delivered to terminate detected cardiac asystole using residual energy from a defibrillation energy storage source. The residual energy usable for the pacing therapy is sufficient to transthoracicly deliver at least one pacing pulse, and is typically sufficient to deliver a series of pacing pulses, prior to depletion of the defibrillation energy storage source. Detection of cardiac asystole is performed following delivery of each pacing pulse, and subcutaneous pacing support is terminated in response to detecting cardiac asystole termination. |