TO EDIT Ventricular Fibrillation

Question 1

Define ventricular fibrillation and summarise its aetiology and epidemiology.

Answer 1

Definition: An irregular broad-complex tachycardia that can cause cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death.

Aetiology:
- The ventricular fibres contract randomly causing complete failure of ventricular function
- Most cases occur in patients with underlying heart disease 
- Risk Factors: 
    • Coronary artery disease
    • AF
    • Hypoxia
    • Ischaemia 
    • Pre-excitation syndrome 

Epidemiology:

• The most common arrhythmia identified in cardiac arrest patients
• Incidence of VF parallels the incidence of ischaemic heart disease

Question 2

Describe the history/presenting symptoms of ventricular aetiology

Answer 2

• History:
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Palpitations

- There may be known pre-existing conditions:
    • Coronary artery disease 
    • Cardiomyopathy 
    • Valvular heart disease 
    • Long QT syndrome 
    • Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome 
    • Brugada syndrome

Question 3

What are the signs of ventricular fibrillation upon physical examination?

Answer 3

• ECG

- vARDIAC