(!) Ventricular fibrillation

Question 1

Define Ventricular fibrillation

Answer 1

most important shockable rythm in cardiac arrest

rapid and random electrical activity causes ventricles to be unable to contract-heart becomes quivering mass (not pump)-always fatal

Question 2

Aetiology and risk factors of ventricular fibrillation

Answer 2

Pathophys unclear-either re-entry circuit or wavelets
causes:
cardiac: MI, cardiomypathy, long QT syndrome, aortic stenosis/dissect, tamponade
Resp-tension pneumo, PE
Toxic-drugs,
Hypthermia, electrical shocks, sepsis

Question 3

Epidiemology of Venrtricular fibrillation

Answer 3

Unclear but common cause of cardiac arrest which need to know

Question 4

Signs and Sx of Ventricular fibrillation

Answer 4

Patient unresponsive, pulseless, not breathing/agonal breaths

try and identify reversible causes of VF
4T and 4F

or risk factors in patient

Question 5

Investigations of ventricular fibrillation

Answer 5

ECG-chaotic pulseless activity, irregularly irregular
up to 500bpm
varying amplitude
nothing identifiable

wide amplitude which decreases with time

Question 6

Management of ventricular fibrillation

Answer 6

ALS/BLSs-CAB approach
CPR and rescue breath started immediatly

shockable rythm to defibrillator as fast as possible
Shock first, then CPR

after 3rd shock-adrnealine and amiodarone, continue, repeat after 5th shock

Question 7

Complications of ventricular fibrillation

Answer 7

Death
Apoxic brain injury
liver hypxoxia
fracture ribs and sternum
repeat VF

Question 8

Prognosis of ventricular fibrillation

Answer 8

Same as cardiac arrest-badly low-85% die

even those in hospital
If make it to hosp-10% chance to live