Ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF) is an abnormal heart rhythm in which the ventricles of the heart quiver. It is due to disorganized electrical activity. Ventricular fibrillation results in cardiac arrest with loss of consciousness and no pulse. This is followed by sudden cardiac death in the absence of treatment. Ventricular fibrillation is initially found in about 10% of people with cardiac arrest.
| Ventricular fibrillation | |
|---|---|
| 12-lead ECG showing ventricular fibrillation | |
| Specialty | Cardiology, Emergency Medicine |
| Symptoms | Cardiac arrest with loss of consciousness and no pulse |
| Causes | Coronary heart disease (including myocardial infarction), valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, Brugada syndrome, electric shock, long QT syndrome, intracranial hemorrhage |
| Diagnostic method | Electrocardiogram |
| Differential diagnosis | Torsades de pointes |
| Treatment | Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with defibrillation |
| Prognosis | Survival rate 17% (out of hospital), 46% (in hospital) |
| Frequency | ~10% of people in cardiac arrest |
Ventricular fibrillation can occur due to coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome, electric shock, or intracranial hemorrhage. Diagnosis is by an electrocardiogram (ECG) showing irregular unformed QRS complexes without any clear P waves. An important differential diagnosis is torsades de pointes.
Treatment is with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. Biphasic defibrillation may be better than monophasic. The medication epinephrine or amiodarone may be given if initial treatments are not effective. Rates of survival among those who are out of hospital when the arrhythmia is detected is about 17% while in hospital it is about 46%.