Physio Control LIFEPAK 15, Operating Instructions Manual

Page: 117 / 284

Chapter 5 | Therapy
©2007-2015 Physio-Control, Inc. LIFEPAK 15 Monitor/Defibrillator Operating Instructions
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Therapy Electrode and Standard Paddle Placement
The following paragraphs describe therapy electrode and standard paddle skin preparation and
placement, including special placement situations.
Patient Skin Preparation
Prepare the patient’s skin:
• Remove all clothing from the patient’s chest.
•
Remove excessive chest hair as much as possible. Avoid nicking or cutting the skin if using a
shaver or razor. If possible, avoid placing electrodes over broken skin.
•
Clean and dry the skin, if necessary. Remove any ointment on the patient’s chest.
• Briskly wipe the skin dry with a towel or gauze. This mildly abrades the skin and removes oils,
dirt, and other debris for better electrode adhesion to the skin.
• Do not use alcohol, tincture of benzoin, or antiperspirant to prep the skin.
Anterior-Lateral Placement
Anterior-lateral placement is used for ECG monitoring, defibrillation, synchronized cardioversion,
and noninvasive pacing.
To perform anterior-lateral placement:
1. Place either the

therapy electrode or
APEX
paddle lateral to the patient's left nipple in the
midaxillary line, with the center of the electrode in the midaxillary line, if possible. See the
following figure.
QUIK-COMBO Therapy Electrodes Standard Paddles
Figure 33 Anterior-Lateral Placement
2. Place the other therapy electrode or
STERNUM
paddle on the patient’s upper right torso,
lateral to the sternum and below the clavicle as shown in the preceding figure.