Transchest ventricular defibrillation of a subject weighing 102.5 kg (225.9 lb)

Transchest ventricular defibrillation of a 102.5 kg patient is reported. Initial failure to defibrillate under very favorable conditions supports the concept that 300 W/sec of delivered energy is marginal for dependable defibrillation in heavy subjects. It is proposed that obesity does not significantly raise defibrillation threshold; rather, it is thoracic size which affects the critical current density through the heart and which is therefore a more important determinant in defibrillation success.