Where should defibrillator pads be placed if the patient's chest is touching?

Placing the defibrillator pads in an anterior and posterior position is essential in certain situations, particularly when a patient's chest is touching. This placement involves placing one pad on the front of the chest (the anterior position) and the other on the back (the posterior position). This method helps establish a better electrical pathway through the heart, improving the chances of successful defibrillation in cases where traditional anterior-lateral placement may not be feasible due to obstacles or contact between patients.

Using an anterior-posterior position is especially useful in situations where chest interference could impede effective defibrillation. This placement can mitigate the risk of electrical interference from other patients or objects, guiding the energy directly through the heart, which increases the likelihood of restoring a normal rhythm.

Other configurations, like anterior and lateral, lateral and inferior, or inferior and superior, do not establish as effective a pathway for defibrillation as the anterior-posterior configuration does in the context described. Each of those placements would either lead to ineffective energy distribution or may not make optimal contact with the heart, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the defibrillation attempt.