Defibrillation thresholds: A generalised polynomial chaos study

This study aims to understand the effect of variations in cardiac conductivity values on defibrillation thresholds in a simple heart-in-a-bath model. A generalised polynomial chaos approach is used to generate 41 sets of four cardiac conductivity values based on the three commonly used data sets. Simulations, using the bidomain equations, are performed on an isolated heart placed in a bath with a pair of defibrillation paddles, of varying potential differences, at the sides of the bath. The polynomial chaos approach allows the calculation of mean and variance of extracellular potential and potential gradient fields within the heart. The results show that conductivity values have a significant effect on the thresholds required to defibrillate the heart.