Spark-generating properties of electrode gels used during defibrillation. A potential fire hazard.

Abstract

After a defibrillation attempt started a fire in an oxygen-enriched intensive care unit environment, seven popular electrode gels were tested for spark-generating properties by repeated 360-J electrical discharges into a 50-omega test load. Gels with low initial impedance (7 +/- 1 omega) allowed a high current flow (51 +/- 1 A), maintained a cool temperature (27 degrees C to 33 degrees C), and did not spark. Gels with high initial impedance (125 +/- 14 omega) allowed less current (26 +/- 2 A), heated to 52 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C, liquified, and generated an electrical spark after the fourth or fifth discharge. Federal standards should be developed to identify and label electrode gels that can be used safely for high-current applications such as defibrillation.