Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) Flashcards
What is Ventricular Fibrillation?
A condition in which there is uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle of the ventricles in the heart, making them quiver rather than contract properly.
What are the anatomical structures affected by VF?
- Left and right ventricles of the heart
- The septum
- Free walls
- Right outflow tract (area before the pulmonary valve)
What are the structural abnormalities associated with VF?
- Ventricles may appear to be hypertrophied (more muscle) due to high BP
- Ventricles are dilated and scarred
What are the physiological abnormalities associated with VF?
- Electrical activity becomes disorganised and chaotic
- The heart fibrillates but doesn’t beat
- No blood is pumped to the lungs or the body. This causes a rapid loss of consciousness.
What prior events lead to VF?
- Often there is no warning of this condition
- It commonly occurs after MI
- Also when heart failure is present
What are the signs and symptoms of VF?
- There may be some warning symptoms: Palpitations, light-headedness, chest pain
- The patient loses consciousness within seconds of the start of VF
- Patient will be motionless
- Unresponsive to verbal command or shaking
- Slow deep snore or no signs of breathing
- No pulse can be detected
- The collapse is sudden and dramatic
What are the abnormal test results expected with VF?
A messy disorganised ECG
What are the medical and surgical interventions available to a patient in VF?
ABC strategy should be followed:
A- Airway (extend the neck)
B- Breathing (can be supported using oxygen)
C- Circulation (can be supported by external Cardiac Massage)
- DC Shock
What are the primary and secondary preventative measures which should be taken to avoid VF or further VF?
- Look at family history to detect risk of VF; particularly any cases of sudden cardiac death
- Beta Blockers are sometimes used to reduce the risk of ventricular rhythm abnormalities
- Automatic Internal Defibrillators
