Emergency medical responder (EMR)/Critical interventions/Ventricular fibrillation

Ventricular Fibrilation (VF) is a cahotic ventricular rhythm preceding the cardiac arrest. VF is characterised by chaotic electrical impulses, which originate in the ventricles. These chaotic impulses fail to create Systole, causing inadequate perfusion.

Defibrillation is the largest part of treatment, depolarizing the heart and allowing a normal sinus rhythm to be reestablished. After several attempts at defibrillation, (usually three) CPR and intubation can be initiated to facilitate better management.

Antiarrythmics, such as amiodarone are widely used in conjunction with a defibrillator, but have little value on their own. The causes of cardiac arrest can vary greatly, (i.e following trauma, to shock and drugs) or can be entirely spontaneous. Recovery can (rarely) also be spontaneous, known as ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation). It is not possible For ROSC to occur in the absence of AHA ACLS treatment. Spontaneous in this sense refers to the resumption of the pulse post depolarization of the myocardial cells.

Prognosis, as with all forms of cardiac arrest is decidedly poor.