What type of defibrillation must monitor/defibrillators provide under these protocols?

• A. Fixed energy monophasic defibrillation.
• B. Monophasic defibrillation with standard energy.
• C. External defibrillation with escalating energy.
• D. Escalating energy, biphasic defibrillation (includes AEDs).

Answer: (D)

The type of defibrillation required is escalating-energy shocks delivered with a biphasic waveform. Biphasic defibrillation uses current that reverses direction during the shock, which achieves effective defibrillation at lower energies and with less heart muscle damage than older monophasic waveforms. Escalating energy means the device can start with a lower dose and increase in subsequent shocks if needed, a pattern standard to modern monitors and AEDs. This combination—biphasic shocks with escalating energy—reflects current guidelines and is the most effective and safe approach for both manual and AED defibrillators. Fixed energy or monophasic approaches are older and less aligned with today’s practice.