Ventricular Fibrillation

Overview

Ventricular fibrillation is a chaotic ventricular electrical rhythm in which there is no effective coordinated contraction.

It causes cardiac arrest unless promptly terminated.

Recognition

The patient is unresponsive with no effective pulse and a fibrillatory rhythm on the cardiac monitor.

Causes

Acute myocardial ischemia is a major cause. Other causes include cardiomyopathy, electrolyte disturbances, hypoxia, and inherited arrhythmia syndromes.

Management

Immediate high-quality CPR and early defibrillation are the key interventions.

Resuscitation should also identify and treat reversible causes of cardiac arrest.

VF is a shockable rhythm: early defibrillation is critical.

Clinical Pearls