Ventricular fibrillation

Question 1

What is ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 1

Involves very rapid and irregular ventricular activation with no mechanical effect

Question 2

Aetiology of ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 2

A manifestation of underlying ischaemic heart disease

Other causes including cardiomyopathy, electrolyte imbalance and overdoses of cardiotoxic drugs.

Question 3

Pathophysiology of ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 3

Usually provoked by a ventricular ectopic beat.

Question 4

Clinical features of ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 4

Patient is pulseless and becomes rapidly unconscious leading to cardiac arrest.

Question 5

ECG features of ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 5

No recognisable QRS complexes

Random frequency and amplitude

Uncoordinated electrical activity

Question 6

Ventricular fibrillation is a shockable rhythm. True/false?

Answer 6

True

Question 7

What are the 2 shockable rhythms in cardiac arrest?

Answer 7

Pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF).