[Distribution of the density of defibrillating current in the chest and underneath the defibrillator's electrodes].

Results of experiments carried out in animals and of measurements made on electrophysical and analogue models are presented. It has been found that with routinely employed manipulations in the electric impulse therapy of arrhythmias the denstiy of the current in the chest and directly underneath the defibrillator's electrodes is distributed in a non-uniform fashion. This results in high defibrillation thresholds, possible damages of the heart and body teguments. The causes responsible for this non-uniformity are analyzed, the non-uniformity itself is assessed and ways of its elimination are indicated.