Ventricular fibrillation

Question 1

Ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 1

Irregular broad complex tachycardia that can cause cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death.

Question 2

Ventricular fibrillation aetiology?

Answer 2

the ventricular fibres contract randomly causing complete failure of ventricular function.

Question 3

Ventricular fibrillation risk factors (5)?

Answer 3

coronary artery disease, AF, hypoxia, ischaemia, pre-excitation syndrome.

Question 4

Ventricular fibrillation epidemiology?

Answer 4

Most common arrhythmia in cardiac arrest patients.

Question 5

Ventricular fibrillation symptoms?

Answer 5

History of chest pain, fatigue, palpitations.

Question 6

Ventricular fibrillation associated pre-existing conditions (5)?

Answer 6

coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, long QT syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Question 7

Ventricular fibrillation investigations (6)?

Answer 7

ECG, cardiac enzymes (troponins to check for recent ischaemic event) electrolytes (derangement can cause arrhythmias), drug levels and tox screen, TFTs (for hyperthyroidism), coronary angiography (to check integrity of coronary arteries).

Question 8

Ventricular fibrillation management?

Answer 8

requires urgent defibrillation and cardioversion, needs full assessment of left ventricular function, empirical beta-blockers.

Question 9

Ventricular fibrillation complications (7)?

Answer 9

ischaemic brain injury due to loss of cardiac output, myocardial injury, post-defibrillation arrhythmias, aspiration pneumonia, skin burns, death