What is the primary purpose of a wearable external defibrillator?

The primary purpose of a wearable external defibrillator is to continuously monitor the heart's rhythm and deliver defibrillation if life-threatening tachyarrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia, are detected. This type of device is especially beneficial for patients who are at increased risk for sudden cardiac arrest but are not candidates for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) at that moment. It provides an additional layer of safety by ensuring that if a dangerous arrhythmia occurs, the device can intervene immediately, which is crucial for survival.

The wearable defibrillator also allows for patient mobility and comfort while offering real-time monitoring, making it a valuable tool for managing patients with specific cardiac risks. This capability significantly enhances patient care by reducing response time to critical heart rhythm changes and increasing the chances of survival.

Other options relate to different functionalities that do not align with the main purpose of a wearable defibrillator; for example, it does not provide permanent stabilization of heart rhythms, cannot be used for recording activity levels, nor is it designed to enable remote heart surgery. Each of these aspects emphasizes the unique role that wearable defibrillators play in emergency cardiac care.