Defibrillation is a treatment for life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias, specifically ventricular fibrillation (VF) and non-perfusing ventricular tachycardia (VT). A defibrillator delivers a dose of electric current (often called a countershock) to the heart. This depolarizes a large amount of the heart muscle, ending the dysrhythmia. Subsequently, the body's natural pacemaker in the sinoatrial node of the heart is able to re-establish normal sinus rhythm.
Benzocaine is a local anesthetic commonly used as a topical pain reliever or in cough drops. It is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter anesthetic ointments such as products for oral ulcers.
Although nearly all topical anesthetic preparations have been associated with methemoglobinemia, benzocaine is the most common and is the largest component of Cetacaine topical anesthetic (benzocaine/butamben/tetracaine hydrochloride) (Cetylite Industries, Pennsauken, NJ) formulations.