Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation or VF occurs when there are uncoordinated contractions within the ventricles of the heart. The primary cause of VF is hypoxia (lack of oxygen) to the heart muscle which causes hyperirritability in the cardiac muscle tissue.

As a result, multiple muscles cells within the ventricles simultaneously fire as pacemakers causing a quivering or fibrillation that is ineffective for adequate cardiac output.

The two images above show what ventricular fibrillation will look like on a EKG rhythm strip.

VF can rapidly lead to heart muscle ischemia and there is a high likelihood that it will deteriorate into asystole.

VF should be treated per the pulseless arrest algorithm which is also used for pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

Ventricular fibrillation is always pulseless and must be confirmed by EKG or defibrillator monitor. Defibrillation is the treatment of choice and should occur as soon as possible.

The video below shows an example of what ventricular fibrillation will look like when you see it on the defibrillator monitor. Please allow several seconds for the video to load.

Use the Megacode Simulator